KBCS Fund Drive

Your support keeps the diverse music and progressive news and public affairs you count on going strong! Call 425-564-5000 or click the "Donate Now" button. Thank you in advance for making KBCS possible!

KBCS News

August 16, 2019According to a 2013 Washington State Domestic Violence Fatality Review, guns are by far the most common weapon used in domestic violence homicides. More than all other weapons combined. Emy Johnston shares her remarkable story of how she navigated for her life after being shot by her ex-partner.
A warning that the content on this story ...

August 16, 2019A study on the impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACE), including exposure to emotional, physical, sexual abuse, or household dysfunction on adult long term health was published in 1998. The study found a relationship of ACE exposure to increased heart disease, cancer and chronic lung disease in adulthood. Since this study, many public health agencies ...

August 15, 2019Juvenile Bald Eagles are learning to make a living this time of year, while adult eagles feed them. Follow Seward Park Audubon Center’s Lead Naturalist, Ed Dominguez and KBCS’s Yuko Kodama on a trail in Seattle’s Seward Park as they listen for the young eagles’ calls for food.
﻿
Producers: Yuko Kodama and Jesse Callahan
Photo: Juvenile Bald ...

July 26, 2019This year’s Tribal Canoe Journey, honoring ancient indigenous traditions is underway. The Lummi Nation is hosting this year’s festivities by welcoming over one hundred indigenous canoes to their shores. Canoe families come from Washington state, British Columbia, Alaska and as far as Hawaii. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama was at the Samish Landing, a day before ...

July 25, 2019Jaime Rubio Sulficio faces deportation, and took sanctuary at Seattle’s St. Mark’s Cathedral at the end of March. Rubio was a business owner, Latin dance instructor and active member of the community. He and his wife, Keiko Maruyama describe their experiences adjusting to this chapter in their lives in this series on their experiences.
Producer: Yuko ...

July 17, 2019Summer wildfires are the new face of catastrophic climate change in Washington and much of the West. As summer 2019 unfolds, those who can, are making plans to become seasonal climate refugees to escape the smoke and unhealthy air. Find out what options there are who can’t leave town.
Producers: Martha Baskin and Daniel Guenther
Photo: ...

July 15, 2019Paul Tomita is a third generation Japanese American who attended a protest in June, against the Trump Administration’s plans to incarcerate 1400 children at US army post, Fort Sill this month. The organizers of the event were Japanese American, and some were elders who had experienced forced relocation and incarceration by the United States government ...

July 15, 2019The Japanese American Community organized a Lights for Liberty event on July 12, in Wisteria Park, across from the Seattle Buddhist Temple. This is a collage of sounds and impressions from people who attended.
Producers: Gol Hoghooghi and Yuko Kodama
Photos: Yuko Kodama
Alice Ito with a photo of her friend, Fumiko Hayashita and Hayashita’s daughter, Natalie on ...

July 12, 2019Over 700 Lights for Liberty events across the United States and in a couple of dozen countries were planned on Friday, July 12th, to protest concentration camps at the US southern border. Other significant protests within the past few months were one in Crystal Springs, Texas, and Fort Sill Oklahoma. These were both on or ...

July 4, 2019July 4th is a federally recognized holiday, observing the day North American colonists formally adopted the Declaration of Independence from Britain.
Makah tribal member, Cynthia Savini shares the complex indigenous relationship with this holiday, with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama.

July 2, 2019The NAACP’s first Mississippi field secretary, Medgar Evers was a civil rights leader who organized voter-registration efforts, economic boycotts, and investigated crimes perpetrated against blacks in the south. He was born on July 2nd 1925, and was assassinated at his home in Jackson Mississippi in1963. A group of participants from Project Pilgrimage listened to civil ...

June 25, 2019Progressive Talk show host, Thom Hartmann spoke at Town Hall Seattle about the Hidden History of Guns and the Second Amendment on June 23rd. Here is the full recording from the event.
Be sure to check out the live broadcast of the Thom Hartmann Program on KBCS, each weekday from 9 am to noon!
Special thanks to Town ...

June 19, 2019In May, the wreckage of the last slave ship to the United States was confirmed found off the shores of Mobile Alabama. Attorney, Justice, and Historian, Karlos Finley, explains the significance of the slaveship, Clotilda, for the descendants of those enslaved people transported here inside it in 1860. Finley also describes the remarkable community that ...

June 13, 2019Are you, or someone you know navigating the preteen and/or the teen girl? Julie Metzger is a Pediatric Nurse and Founder of Great Conversations. Metzger has been providing programs for families of teens on the topic of sex, puberty and growing up for over 30 years. She speaks with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama about what puberty ...

June 7, 2019The First Friday of June is Gun Violence Awareness Day. Trese Todd, Everytown Survivors Network Fellow and a Co-lead for the North Seattle Group of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense Washington State Chapter speaks with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama about the latest on the implementation of Extreme Risk Protection Orders, a law which passed in ...

June 5, 2019This KBCS series focuses on the impacts of locking up the women in our community. The following two segments highlight the experiences of Shontina Vernon: a local artist who first became incarcerated at age 10.
Part 1 – We hear from Shontina Vernon, a local artist who had been incarcerated at the age of 10, about ...

June 4, 2019Crack cocaine, swept throughout the US in the 1980’s as an inexpensive and easily accessible drug. Neighborhoods and families were severely impacted by this epidemic. Aaron Dixon, the former Seattle Chapter Captain for the Black Panther Party, is writing a book on the impact of crack cocaine on black communities. Dixon describes how ...

June 4, 2019Crack cocaine, swept throughout the US in the 1980’s as an inexpensive and easily accessible drug. Neighborhoods and families were severely impacted by this epidemic. Aaron Dixon, the former Seattle Chapter Captain for the Black Panther Party, is writing a book on the impact of crack cocaine on black communities. He starts by describing ...

June 3, 2019The crack epidemic of the 80’s and 90’s and its entanglement with increased gun presence and gang activity deeply impacted communities throughout the US. Aaron Dixon, the author of the book, My People Are Rising, and former Captain of the Black Panther Party Seattle Chapter, worked closely with gang involved youth at the time. He ...

May 22, 2019On September 15th, 1963, the 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan, killing four young girls. This bombing marked a turning point in the United States during the Civil Rights Movement, and contributed to support for passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Dr. Carolyn McKinstry was 15 years old ...

May 3, 2019The Griot Party is an event that encourages community healing for all black and brown people whose lives and lineage have been impacted by the transatlantic slave trade. Listen to Logic Amen, Griot Party Producer, Artist and Educator, speak to what the Griot has symbolized, and the space that the Griot Party events offer ...

April 25, 201991.3 KBCS adds the Rising Up program to its Monday-Friday line-up. Host Sonali Kohatkar connects global issues to local communities with this hour-long program, produced in Los Angeles at KPFK.
The hip-hop talk program Hard Knock Radio moves to 7am, replacing the KBCS “Blend” news hour.
“Sonali is a fresh progressive voice that we believe will resonate ...

April 22, 2019Dahr Jamail, Journalist and Author the book, The End of Ice spoke at a Seattle Town Hall Event on March 26th.
You can listen to the entire address at the link below.
Special thanks to Town Hall Seattle for the recorded audio.

April 15, 2019Today on Unmute the Commute, we take a trip to school. Produced by Michelle Waller Martin.
Unmute the Commute is supported in part by Just One Trip. A King County Metro initiative to get you out of your car starting with just one trip.

April 11, 2019The King County Library System works to make materials accessible to more people by taking books to them. KBCS’s Jim Cantu goes to one of King County Library’s regular mobile service events.
﻿
Photo from Christchurch City Libraries
Produced by Jim Cantu and Yuko Kodama

April 5, 2019A report released by the Urban Indian Health Institute in 2018 shows that over 500 cases of missing or murdered indigenous women have been found throughout the United States – many since the year 2000. 70 women had gone missing or were murdered in Seattle and Tacoma. 6 were reported in Portland. How are indigenous ...

April 1, 2019A Metro bus can be a lot of things – a way to get to work, a social hub and even a place to find love. On today’s Unmute the Commute, we hear from one rider who is trying to bring passengers together… with mixed success.

March 30, 2019Aaron and Elmer Dixon were both detained on the day of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination in 1968. They watched the cities burning after Dr. King’s death. Not long after this event, the Dixon brothers went to the Bay Area where they met leaders of the Black Panther Party. Listen in on how the ...

March 29, 2019The Prayer Skirt, a long skirt adorned with ribbons, is ceremonial regalia for the Plains tribes. During the demonstration against the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock, indigenous women of many different tribes began to wear the prayer skirt at ceremony in solidarity with the Plains Tribes women.
Prayer skirts, have also been adopted into events ...

March 28, 2019Misty Upham was a successful indigenous actress from the Blackfeet Nation, winning roles alongside stars like Benicio Del Torro in the Cannes Film Festival acclaimed Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian, and Ewan MacGregor in August: Osage county. Misty Upham also went missing on October 5th 2014. Her body was found in Auburn, Washington ...

March 27, 2019A report released by the Urban Indian Health Institute in 2018 shows that over 500 cases of missing or murdered indigenous women have been found throughout the United States – many since the year 2000. 70 women had gone missing or were murdered in Seattle and Tacoma. 6 were reported in Portland. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama ...

March 26, 2019Carolyn DeFord is an enrolled Puyallup member and is from Nisqually and Cowlitz descendants. Her mother, Leona LeClair Kinsey has been missing for nearly 20 years. DeFord shares what she’s come away with from this tragedy with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama
Special thanks to Jesse Callahan for help with editing this story.
0:00
91.3 KBCS music and ideas listener ...

March 25, 2019Indigenous women have taken the lead in increasing awareness of the high numbers of their sisters who go missing and die to violence. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama takes you to a red skirt sewing circle, a community building event which builds support for, honors, and assists in the healing of the community mourning their missing and ...

March 25, 2019Roxanne White, of the Yakama, Nez Perce, Nooksack and Gros Ventre tribes, is an activist who advocates for the families of missing and murdered women (MMIW). KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with White about the MMIW movement at an indigenous prayer skirt sewing circle organized as a community building event in honor of Missing and Murdered ...

March 18, 2019Over the last four years, deaths of pedestrians and bicyclists in Washington State have doubled. This comes at a time when the state wants to get to zero traffic fatalities by the year 2030. So, how do we get there? We talk to Seattle bike lawyer Bob Anderton to hear one proposal.
Produced by Jennie Cecil ...

March 18, 2019On Friday, March 15th, 2019, hundreds of thousands of youth all over the world left school to participate in a global youth climate strike. Youth Climate Strikes took place in over 1,300 locations across 98 countries according to CBS News. The strike was inspired by 16 year old, Greta Thunberg of Sweden, who opted out ...

March 7, 2019What do the recent Women’s Marches and the Women’s Suffrage March of 1913 have in common? Racial controversy. Listen in on what it took for people with intersectional identities to fight for the right to vote.
KBCS’s Yuko Kodama has the story.
An exhibit of two Delta Sigma Theta leaders is showing now at Seattle’s Northwest African American Museum through ...

February 18, 2019Everyday we rely on people to get us around – in buses, carpools, rideshares… but who are the people driving us? On this week’s Unmute the Commute, we hear from an Uber driver who also happens to be the mayor of Kenmore.

February 15, 2019What is navigating academia like for many people of color? Graduate student, Francesca Simmons sat down with Dr. Georgia McDade, the first African American woman to receive a doctorate in English from the University of Washington to share their experiences.
Special thanks to the University of Washington, Center for Communication, Difference, and Equity for this recording for ...

February 15, 2019Each year in the United States, well over 15,000 children from birth to 19 are diagnosed with cancer. KBCS’s Kendra Hanna speaks with Kelly Forebaugh of St Baldrick’s Foundation and a mother of a cancer survivor, about how treating cancer in children is different than cancer treatment for adults.
﻿
Photo by Helena Eriksson

February 12, 2019In 1987, a riot on a Washington State ferry resulted in over $30,000 worth of damage to the SV Kitsap. On this week’s Unmute the Commute, we talk to people who were there about what happened, and more importantly, why there was a riot in the first place.
Featuring: Chris Looney (Infamous Kitsap Ferry Riot) + JG ...

February 8, 2019Seattle is home to the rare art form of freehand stone wheel engraved crystal – but not for long. Though Kusak Cut Glass Works has made Seattle its home for over 104 years, the business closes within the next couple of months. Cynthia Brothers, Vanishing Seattle Founder and KBCS’s Yuko Kodama take a tour of the ...

February 8, 2019What kind of habitat do cattails on our water’s edges provide for the red winged blackbird? Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, Ed Dominguez and KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talk about this habitat and this talkative bird at the Union Bay Natural Area near Seattle’s University District.

February 8, 2019The International District has seen a change as businesses respond to outside forces. KBCS’s sat down with Rahul Gupta, Education and Tours Director at the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, to learn more about the neighborhood.
Producer Yuko Kodama

February 8, 2019Find out about ducks who fish. Join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama on the shores of Lake Washington with Ed Dominguez, Lead Naturalist of the Seward Park Audubon Center, and discover Merganser water birds around Seattle.
“Common Merganser family” by nicolebeaulac is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

February 8, 2019Join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama and Ed Dominguez, Lead Naturalist of the Seward Park Audubon Center, for another stroll through Seattle’s Seward Park, as they encounter and discuss our national bird: the bald eagle.
“Eagle” by Jeff Power is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

February 8, 2019January is International Gourmet Coffee Month. David Yanke, former representative of Tony’s Coffee and coffee connoisseur, gives tips on coffee tasting and selection at a King County Library Service program. This segment originally broadcast in 2013.
Photo by Duncan C

February 4, 2019Since the Alaskan Way Viaduct closed, riders on the West Seattle Water Taxi have more than doubled. King County Metro is hoping that some of those new riders will keep using the water taxi even after the tunnel replacing the viaduct opens. On this week’s Unmute the Commute, we take a trip to Elliott Bay ...

January 25, 201990 years ago Tuesday January 15th 1929 Martin Luther King Jr. was born. At the age of 26 he became a key leader in the modern American Civil Rights Movement. He is well known for promoting non-violence. A way of life that Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr., who worked with Dr. King, promotes to this day.
While ...

January 14, 2019Take a look at some of the businesses that closed in our region in 2018. Vanishing Seattle is a nonprofit organization that documents the displaced and disappearing institutions, small businesses, and cultures of the area, often due to the increasing real estate market prices and changing demographics. In this three-part series, KBCS’s Yuko Kodama interviews Cynthia ...

January 11, 2019You may see bright berries left hanging onto branches in the winter cold this time of year. These berries are a source of food and a stiff drink for our resident birds. Listen in for more on the antics of birds this season as you join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama and Ed Dominguez, Lead Naturalist of ...

January 11, 2019As the Alaskan Way Viaduct closes and is demolished this year, Cynthia Brothers, Founder of Vanishing Seattle shares stories about the grunge, gay and hip hop subcultures that flourished in the shadows of the structure over the past half century.
produced by Yuko Kodama, Noah Allen and Jesse Callahan
photo by Stephen Cysewski

January 7, 2019Take a tour of a local fortune cookie and noodle factory with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama and Dawn Nguyen of the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, otherwise known as the Wing. Speaking of food, The Wing offers a tour called the International Dumpling Crawl, now through march, to tour and try dumplings ...

November 30, 2018How can you tell if your loved one, who’s getting cranky and forgetful is depressed or has dementia? In 2013, former KBCS news director, Sonya Green, spoke with Mary Lou Brown, a caregiver to her husband who was diagnosed with dementia in 1996. Mary and her husband also tapped into a resources at the Frye ...

November 30, 2018The border town of Arivaca, Arizona, is no stranger to migrants crossing through the desert and mountains in hopes for a better life in the U.S. The documentary film Undeterred, shows how militarizing the border can result in migrants dying in the desert and in the neighborhoods of towns on the border. The film was ...

November 26, 2018Often in this series, we feature stories about people in dense urban areas taking buses to work or community events. Outside of Seattle and its suburbs, many people rely on public transit as well. But bus service hasn’t always been reliable in rural areas. Today we take a bus ride in Snoqualmie Valley and look ...

November 19, 2018Lose a bet, and find a family; that’s what happened to one local indigenous woman. KBCS’s Esther “Little Dove” John spoke with Wendy Burdette, at the Muckleshoot Elders Complex, about how she found her blood relatives, after years of searching, by going to a bingo hall.
Producer Esther “Little Dove” John

November 19, 2018Washington has a handful of prisons scattered across the state – so if you’re convicted of a crime in Spokane, you may end up incarcerated in Clallam Bay or Shelton. This can mean a long trip for family members or spouses. Produced by Max Wasserman.

November 13, 2018Gabriel Teodros, musician and writer, talks about the roots of Hip Hop as social commentary and a form of protest. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with him in 2009 for a feature on Listen Up Northwest and Reclaim the Media.
Producer Yuko Kodama

November 13, 2018Thousands of Seattleites joined a nationwide rally on November 8th, 2018, in support of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The Northwest News Network’s Casey Martin reports it comes after President Trump replaced Attorney General Jeff Sessions with a critic of Mueller’s investigation into the Trump campaign.
“Protect Mueller” by Joe Flood is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Producer ...

November 6, 2018El Centro De La Raza, in Seattle’s Beacon Hill, hosted “BYOB: Bring Your Own Ballot Party!” on October 27th, 2018; a special gathering to help voters. The event provided assistants and interpreters to answer questions about this year’s election ballot, and celebrated the act of voting with live music. KBCS’s Gol Hoghooghi spoke with several people at ...

November 5, 2018The period of maximum constraint – that’s the term city planners are using for the next few years in Seattle, when a series of major construction projects will take place to improve transportation in the city’s core. But before these improvements are finished, there is a lot of construction and some nearby business owners are ...

October 31, 2018You may have heard about the false campaign flyers mailed to voters in Pierce, Spokane, Kitsap and the Olympic Peninsula districts this election season. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Kent City Councilwoman, Brenda Fincher, whose identity was misused in a false election mailer.
﻿﻿
Produced by Ruth Bly and Yuko Kodama

October 30, 2018The Washington Bus is a youth driven organization that encourages young people across Washington State to vote and get politically involved. During this elections season, The Washington Bus is busy with campaigns to “Get Out the Vote!”. In addition to door-knocking, the organization hosts phone banking and text banking parties – with a twist.

October 26, 2018KBCS’s Elections 2018 coverage turns to Initiative 1631, focusing on pollution and clean energy. The measure would charge pollution fees on sources of green house gas pollutants and use the revenue to reduce pollution, promote clean energy, and address climate impacts under oversight of a public board. KBCS’s Jim Cantú spoke with Dana Bieber, coalition ...

October 26, 2018In an effort to help get out the vote, El Centro de la Raza in Seattle’s Beacon Hill, is hosting the BYOB: Bring Your Own Ballot Party!; an event on Saturday, October 27th, 2018, to help voters understand their ballots. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with Miguel Maestas, El Centro De La Raza’s Housing and Economic ...

October 25, 2018KBCS continues its Elections 2018 coverage, taking a look at Initiative 940 on law enforcement training and use of deadly force. The measure would require law enforcement to receive violence de-escalation and mental health training, as well as change standards for use of deadly force and require independent investigations in the case that an officer’s ...

October 24, 2018The KBCS Elections 2018 coverage turns to Initiative 1634, determining if foods and beverages available for human consumption (except in the case of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and marijuana) should be exempt from a new local or privileged tax. KBCS’s Ruth Bly spoke with Victor Coleman, Campaign Manager for Washington Healthy Kids Coalition who is sponsoring ...

October 23, 2018The KBCS Elections 2018 coverage speaks with two candidates for the Washington State House of Representatives for the 28th Legislative District, Position 1. KBCS’s Gregg Selby spoke with Dick Muri, Republican candidate running for re-election to a 3rd two-year term, and Mari Leavitt, Democratic candidate.
Produced by Gregg Selby, Ruth Bly, Jim Cantú and Yuko Kodama

October 23, 2018The KBCS Elections 2018 coverage continues, focusing on the Washington legislative race for the State Senate, 47th District. KBCS’s Gregg Selby spoke with Mona Das, Democratic candidate running for re-election to a 3rd four-year term. KBCS reached out to Joe Fain, Republican candidate for this contested State Senate seat, for an interview or a statement ...

October 23, 2018The League of Women Voters Seattle-King County is organizing Ballots & Baristas – a night out for democracy. People are invited to go to designated coffee shops for discussions about ballot measures for this election season. Ballots and Baristas events are held Tuesday, October 23rd facilitated by the League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County, ...

October 22, 2018Riding the bus can, at times, be surprising – it can elicit humor, kindness and gratitude among riders. No one knows this better than Anthony Session. During the day, Session drives King County Metro’s route 7 bus. But on stage, where he calls himself the Mad Bus Driver, Session is a stand up comedian, doing ...

October 19, 2018The KBCS Elections 2018 coverage takes a look at the State Senate race for Washington’s 30th legislative district which covers Federal Way and borders Pierce County.
Current Republican Senator Mark Milosicia faces Democratic challenger Claire Wilson for the 30th legislative district seat. Miloscia previously served seven terms as a Democrat in the State House of Representatives ...

October 18, 2018The KBCS Elections 2018 coverage highlights two candidates for the Washington State House of Representatives for the 47th Legislative District, Position 1. KBCS’s Gregg Selby spoke with Mark Hargrove, Republican candidate running for re-election to a 5th two-year term, and Debra Entenman, Democratic candidate and Congressman Adam Smith’s District Director.
Produced by Gregg Selby, Ruth Bly, ...

October 17, 2018We kick off the KBCS Elections 2018 coverage with a look at both sides of Initiative 1639 on gun control. KBCS’s Gregg Selby spoke with Tallman Trask, spokesperson from the Alliance for Gun Responsibility (the organization for who is supporting Initiative 1639) and Brett Bass, firearms instructor and spokesperson for the Save our Security – No ...

October 15, 2018It has been fifty years since a group of Seattle citizens successfully fought a major freeway planned through their neighborhood. What did the fight look like? And what can it tell us about activism today?

October 5, 2018October 7th, 2018, marks the end of the Tasveer South Asian Film Festival. One of the films playing is Afghan Cycles which follows a 5 year journey of a women’s professional cycling team in Afghanistan. Join us as KBCS’s Ruth Bly speaks with Film Director, Sarah Menzies about what the women face while cycling in ...

October 5, 2018What is it like to live on the US Mexico border today compared to ten years ago? Eva Lewis, a resident of Arivaca, Arizona says the difference is ICE. Lewis describes what motivated her to tackle the subject of life in a border town in the film, Justice in Immigration – Undeterred. This year’s Social ...

September 26, 2018Meet the owner of a Estelita’s Library, Edwin Lando. The new community library opened it’s doors near the Beacon Hill Light Rail Station. Jim Cantú spoke with its owner, Edwin Lando, about what Estelita’s Library is. This is an excerpt of a KVRU interview
We’d like to thank KVRU for their use of their recording.
Producer Jim Cantú

September 20, 2018El Centro de la Raza on Beacon Hill provides social service support to local communities. KBCS’s Jim Cantu spoke with Estela Ortega, Executive Director of the El Centro, about how they provide education and services to immigrant families at risk. Ortega describes how this administration’s actions impact families and children in the Latinx community.
Producer Jim Cantu

September 17, 2018On September 16th, 2018, the Seattle Storm celebrated their third WNBA championship with a rally. KBCS’s Gol Hoghooghi was at at Key Arena to speak with fans at the event.
Producer Gol Hoghooghi

September 14, 2018Conscious Cartoons is a new international animation film festival taking place on Vashon Island Friday, September 14 through the 16th. KBCS interviewed the event’s organizer, Bill Jarko.

September 6, 2018Standing Rock often comes to mind when we think of North Dakota and oil, but this KBCS interview is about what goes on in the day to day work at a North Dakota Oil Field. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama interviews Maya Rao, Author of The Great American Outpost: Dreamers, Mavericks and the Making of an Oil ...

August 27, 2018When you think rodeos, bucking broncos or steer wrestling may come to mind, but what about parallel parking and judgement stops? We follow a competitor in a bus roadeo on Unmute the Commute.

August 24, 2018This coming Sunday is Women’s Equality Day and also, Go Topless Day. On August 26th 1920 women earned the right to vote based on Gender Equality. Today women still face gender equality issues and Go Topless Day seeks to bring awareness to inequities. The group, Femen makes going topless, a form of protest against patriarchy. ...

August 20, 2018The Puget Sound region has grown quickly over the last 10 years. That means thousands more people are in cars headed to work. But there’s another population also sitting in traffic: dogs. Produced by Jennie Cecil-Moore.

August 15, 2018Do financial obligations levied on current and former incarcerated people penalize the poor? A majority of people locked up are either poor or unemployed, prior to incarceration, according to the Prison Policy Initiative’s compilation of data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Fines, fees, and restitution payments pile up for many people leaving prison, making ...

August 10, 2018Surfers of all shapes and sizes are finding a welcoming environment in the cold waters off Ireland’s west coast. Bellevue College students, Miranda Johnson and Jesse DeFelice report on the rise of the surprising surfing mecca of Bundoran, Ireland.
“Surfing” by Fotografías de Javier is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Producers Miranda Johnson and Jesse DeFelice

August 6, 2018On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, resulting in 240,000 casualties. This was the first of two of the only nuclear weapons used on civilians in the world’s history. Shirley Shimada’s family is from a fishing village outside of Hiroshima. She shares her family’s stories about how bewildered the ...

August 6, 2018
Seattle’s steep hills can make traversing the city difficult for those with limited mobility. But, computer scientists at the University of Washington hope to help with a map that routes people through public elevators and lower grade streets. Today’s story: The Access Map. Produced by Casey Martin and Hans Anderson.
To test out new versions of ...

August 6, 2018“From Hiroshima to Hope” is an event commemorating the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan that occurred on August 6, 1945. The evening features musical performances, a Buddhist meditation, and floating lanterns on Seattle’s Green Lake.Last year, about 1200 lanterns were set afloat. Stan Shikuma participates in the event each year with the performance group Seattle Kokon Taiko. ...

August 3, 2018August 1st through 7th is World Breastfeeding week. Public education events to promote and support breastfeeding are held throughout the globe and in our region. Kristina Chamberlain is a certified nurse midwife, lactation consultant and co-owner of the women’s health center, Eastside Total Health and Lactation. She recently spoke with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama about Washington ...

August 1, 2018Palestinian and Israeli flags fly over the city of Derry in Northern Ireland. For centuries the city has been a center of tensions between Loyalists who support continued union with Great Britain and Republicans who want a united Irish Republic. Dr. Patrick Fitzgerald is an Irish historian. He says both sides fly these flags as ...

July 27, 2018What is society currently doing to rehabilitate the incarcerated? Abigail Blue is the former executive director of The Birth Attendants: Prison Doula Project, which closed over 5 years ago, saw the plight of incarcerated pregnant women on a daily basis, at the Washington Correctional Center for Women. She reflects on her experiences working with the incarcerated ...

July 24, 2018Immigrants at the southern United States border are facing unprecedented obstacles and are being separated from their children. On July 20, 2018, Jayapal co-led a group of eight U.S. Congress members to the U.S. border in Texas, where they watched a mass criminal prosecution of immigrants in a federal court and witnessed immigrant parents being ...

July 24, 2018What is asylum status, the process for applying for asylum, and what are the chances of attaining it? Maggie Cheng, a Northwest Immigrant Rights Project staff attorney, speaks with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama about what it’s like to seek asylum status in the United States today.
Part 1: Cheng describes current trends in processing asylum today.
Part 2: ...

July 19, 2018Nearly 100 encampments had been removed in Seattle within the first four months of this year. Between 4 and 6 encampments are being removed every week.
KBCS’s Gol Hoghooghi came across a homeless encampment cleanup in Central Seattle last month and brings you this story of what a sweep looked like.

July 9, 2018The signing of the U.S. Civil Rights Act act banned employment discrimination and outlawed segregation in businesses and public places. The fight for civil rights by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and many others, was crucial to bringing about the act. Dr. Bernard LaFayette worked closely with Dr. King and carries on his legacy today with ...

June 30, 2018The Sustainability In Prisons Project is just one of a number of programs available at Washington prisons to offer training and educational opportunities for inmates. You’ll listen to incarcerated women at the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor from 2015 describing their work in this program.
Photos by WCCW and Yuko Kodama
Mini Greenhouse 2) ...

June 25, 2018Our last story for Unmute the Commute’s Season 3! To close out the season, something fitting of summertime: your hiking game just got a lot easier, thanks to King County Metro’s Trailhead Direct service. Produced by Gregg Selby.
﻿
Unmute the Commute is supported in part by Just One Trip, a King County Metro campaign to get you ...

June 22, 2018Body dysmorphia is an obsessive preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in one’s appearance. Body dysmorphia disorder has particularly deep impacts on the gay community. KBCS’s Devin Williams interviews Dr. Brad Lichtenstein, the chair of the Department of Homeopathy at Bastyr University’s School of Naturopathic Medicine and founder of The Breath Space.

June 18, 2018They decorate our commutes, literally music to our ears. But what is it like for musicians performing on the streets of Seattle? This week on Unmute the Commute, The Buskers. Produced by Ann Kane.
﻿
Additional Resources:
Seattle Parks and Recreation Buskers Program
Pike Place Market Busking Guidelines
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series of stories that move you.

June 14, 2018Relay for Life is an organization that organizes cancer walks, generating money to fight cancer. This donation fueled operation makes a positive impact on inmates who have choose to organize to fight cancer. Pamela Lorenz, an inmate at the Washington Correction Center for women, participated in such a program while incarcerated and shares her experience ...

June 12, 2018Find out about a few breeds of ducks that can be found all-year-round in the Seattle area as KBCS’s Yuko Kodama and Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, take another nature walk in Seattle’s Seward Park.
“handsome marganser” by marneejill is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

June 11, 2018“The Future of Commuting” is already here, reads many headlines today. But what does that really look like? Today on Unmute the Commute, we explore one of these futures – that is already a reality in Seattle. Produced by Jennie Cecil-Moore.
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series featuring stories that move you.

June 8, 2018This KBCS series on Incarcerated Women takes a look at prison food. You’ll hear about how food is prepared at Washington Corrections Center for Women. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with inmates at Washington Correctional Center for Women about food preparation at the facility.
“Got some Beef Stew from upstairs for lunch. I’m guessing this is what ...

June 8, 2018Ever wonder what it would be like meet your prosecuting attorney after leaving prison? Check out this week’s segment of KBCS series on Incarcerated Women as KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Shontina Vernon, a local artist who was formerly incarcerated. Vernon shares her experience of meeting her prosecuting attorney after she served time as a ...

June 1, 2018Yemen is in a humanitarian crisis, as bombings and medical and food blockades continue. Listen to local perspectives on the conditions in this country.
Parts 1 & 2: Aisha Jumaan is a local Yemeni Epidemiologist, coordinator of health projects for Yemen, and founder of the Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation, which sends food and supplies to families ...

May 31, 2018Listen to what it feels like to be a minor behind bars on our KBCS series on Incarcerated Women as KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Shontina Vernon, a local artist who was formerly incarcerated in Texas, at age 10.
Photo from Visionary Justice StoryLab

May 25, 2018Join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama on another nature walk with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to find out about when and how algae can throw its environment out of balance in our local lakes.
“Algae” by alex_quinn is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

May 25, 2018Brooklyn-based filmmaker, Alvin Tsang came to the United States from Hong Kong when he was 9 years old. His mom and stepfather worked day jobs, and by night, Tsang and his two siblings joined the parents to clean office buildings.
Tsang’s film, Reunification is about the immigrant experience of navigating a family who has straddled cultures ...

May 25, 2018What do you do when you witness harassment on the street, at the coffee shop or on the bus?
Pastor Andrew Conley-Holcom of Admiral United Church of Christ is a conflict management workshop facilitator and an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Pastor Conley-Holcom also facilitates workshops in bystander intervention. The sessions involve ...

May 23, 2018Facing breast cancer is scary enough, but learning you have cancer while incarcerated comes with its own set of problems. Pamela Lorenz, an inmate in the Washington Correctional Center for women, found the lack of support groups and privacy as the most challenging parts of facing breast cancer in prison. She shares her story with ...

May 22, 2018Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. organized the Poor People’s Campaign a month before his assassination 50 years ago. Bob Zellner is a civil rights activist and author who actively took part in the original campaign and is a leader in today’s nonviolent direct actions. KBCS’s Ruth Bly spoke with Zellner in April, 2018 about ...

May 21, 2018There’s an art gallery in Seattle only accessible by public transit. Today on Unmute the Commute, the SODO Busway Murals. Produced by Ann Kane.
﻿
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series featuring stories that move you.

May 17, 2018Yes! Magazine’s Bailey Williams speaks with fellow reporter Chris Winters about looking at affordable housing solutions from different angles in the multi-faceted housing crisis. To find out more, check out the article “Tiny Houses Alone Can’t Solve the Housing Crisis. But Here’s What Can“.

May 16, 2018The KBCS series on Incarcerated Women takes a look at the impact of the prison system on local communities as KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Shontina Vernon, a local artist who was formerly incarcerated in Texas, at age 10.

May 14, 2018Imagine Captain America with a turban and beard. That’s one idea that has been brought to life by a Vishavjit Singh, a Sikh American cartoonist. This four-part series highlights a recent conversation with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama and Singh about what inspired his idea for Sikh Captain America and how this character is making an impact. ...

May 14, 2018Find out more about our local Ring-necked ducks. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, as they take another stroll through Seattle’s Seward Park. They talk about how the key characteristic that gave this duck its name may not be so obvious.
“Male Ring-necked Duck 1.jpg” by RWShea Photography is ...

May 14, 2018Forget the debate of whether mini vans or SUVs are better for transporting kids… today on Unmute the Commute, the families who rely on bikes to get around with their kids. Produced by Michelle Wallar Martin.
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series featuring stories that move you.

May 11, 2018A natural birth is an unmediated approach to childbirth with minimal routine interventions unless medically necessary. The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee, is an intentional community, established in 1971, based on the principles of nonviolence and respect for the earth. Pamela Smith, a founding member of the Farm, gave birth to three sons naturally with Ina May ...

May 8, 2018Have you ever wondered how some of our neighbours in outlying islands make it to medical centers quickly when needed? Today on Unmute the Commute, here’s one solution. Produced by Jennie Cecil-Moore.
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series featuring stories that move you.

May 2, 2018Being pregnant is a vulnerable time for a woman. But Imagine the thought of going into labor while incarcerated and the thought of handing your newborn over to the foster care system? Abigail Blue is the former executive director of The Birth Attendants: Prison Doula Project, which closed over 5 years ago, saw the plight ...

May 2, 2018Margerita Guzman is an inmate at Washington Correctional Center for Women in Gig Harbor who became locked up while pregnant. She shares her experience of giving birth behind bars and highlights issues mothers face while in the prison system with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama.
﻿
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

May 1, 2018Alopecia is not life threatening, or contagious but can be traumatic. It’s where your immune system attacks your hair follicles, causing your hair to fall out of your scalp or other parts of your body. 6.8 million people in the US are affected with Alopecia. Jamie Elmore has been a licensed hair stylist and salon ...

April 30, 2018This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Seattle chapter of the Black Panther Party. The Seattle chapter of the Black Panther Party was the first to be established outside of California. This series highlights some lesser known stories of Seattle’s local Black Panther Party.
KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Steve Roberson and Aaron Dixon, former ...

April 30, 2018Today on Unmute the Commute, we’re speaking with some regular ferry commuters who… all have the same thing on their minds. Produced by Ann Kane.
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series featuring stories that move you.

April 26, 2018We have some new information about how the US government is addressing deportations. According to a new study from the Pew Research center, nationwide deportations made by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2017 increased 30% from the previous year. These increases are not distributed evenly. In regions where city and state governments worked hand-in-hand ...

April 25, 2018Sheri Ramsey knows the hardships of a long prison sentence all too well. She’s serving a 25 year term at the Washington Corrections Center for Women. But she’s found hope and work training through the Prison Pet Partnership where she trains service dogs. Inmates also provide grooming and boarding services through the program. KBCS’s Yuko ...

April 23, 2018Rural transit infrastructure is quite different than what urban centers have access to. Today on Unmute the Commute, come with us on a ride to Moses Lake, Washington. Produced by Esmy Jimenez.
Additional Resources:
People for People
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series featuring stories that move you.

April 18, 2018While lawmakers continue to argue over gun laws, student across the nation have been actively organizing to reduce student violence in their schools. Students Against Violence Everywhere has established 100’s of clubs throughout 40 states. There offer programs focused on reducing youth violence at schools and in their communities. YES! Magazine’s Bailey Williams interviews magazine ...

April 16, 2018Have you ever wondered how transit fare enforcement is actually enforced? Today on Unmute the Commute, KBCS’s Yuko Kodama takes us behind-the-scenes of how the system works.
﻿
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series featuring stories that move you.

April 12, 2018The Chamoro people have been living on Guam for over 4,000 years. Yes! Magazine’s Bailey Williams speaks with Dr. Greg Santos Perez, a Chamoro Poet, about the impact of colonization and efforts to save a culture and a language.
“Island Coast” by Jonathan Miske is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

April 9, 2018For this week’s Unmute the Commute, follow us with two Seattle moms as they share their experiences breastfeeding on public transit. Produced by Ann Kane.
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series featuring stories that move you.

April 4, 201850 years ago today, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated. As one of the principle leaders of the civil rights movement King spoke of non-violent resistance and love as the antidote to hate.
Seattle author and speaker, Ijeoma Oluo spoke at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr annual celebration at Garfield High School ...

April 4, 2018Up next is a story from Yes! Magazine about a different take on farming. Yes! Magazine’s Bailey Williams and Isabelle Morrison discuss why some people grow food in shipping containers. To find out more, check out the article on Yes! Magazine’s website, “Why This Montana Farmer Grows Food Year-Round in Shipping Containers“.

April 3, 2018April is Autism Awareness Month, and you’ll listen to an interview on how people with autism experience life. KBCS’s Sonya Green spoke with Sara Gardner, Bellevue College Autism Spectrum Navigator Program Director about the spectrum of Autism. The interview originally broadcast in 2015

April 2, 2018Remember the first time you rode public transit? Think of what your learning curve was like. You may not have known that here in King County, Metro offers training to help flatten that learning curve. Today on Unmute the Commute, Transit Training. Produced by Jennie Cecil-Moore.
Unmute the Commute is supported in part by Just One ...

March 30, 2018KBCS begins a new weekly series on Incarcerated Women.
The United States incarcerates more of its citizens than any other country in the world. Of the over 740,000 people incarcerated in the United States, well over 200,000 are women. The effects on families, communities and taxpayers is pronounced. Over the next months KBCS takes a look ...

March 26, 2018In the wake of the Parkland school shooting–and more than 190 other school shootings since Columbine–people took to the streets on Saturday to call for gun control.
Seattle high schoolers organized a local event to take place in conjunction with the Washington D.C. march.
The Seattle march was one of more than 800 held world wide.
KBCS’s Angie ...

March 22, 2018Yes! Magazine’s Bailey Williams speaks with Josue Rivas, an award winning photographer and film director, who specializes in challenging the main stream narrative of indigenous people. In Yes! Magazine’s Spring 2018 “decolonize” issue, he published a photo essay about his time at Standing Rock. In this interview, Rivas reflects on his time at Standing Rock ...

March 20, 2018Maru Mora-Villalpando is an Undocumented Immigrant rights Activist, founder of NWDC Resistance and #Not1More Deportation. In January, 2018, she was served a letter from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ordering her to appear in immigration court at an unspecified date. Then, in February, 2018, the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) admitted that it furnished ...

March 19, 2018Washington stands out in its significant rise of hate groups established over the past couple of years. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the number of hate groups in Washington increased from 9 to 26 since 2016.
Lonnie Lusardo is a cultural competency trainer and former journalist, who has done extensive research on hate groups and ...

March 15, 2018What foods and thoughts come to mind when you think of your grandma’s meals? Imagine going to a restaurant where grandmas are the chief chefs. YES! Magazine’s Bailey Williams speaks with reporter Shaima Shamdeen about Staton Island’s Enotecha Maria restaurant. The first floor of the restaurant features grandma’s Italian food and the second floor offers ...

March 14, 2018What happens when white parents adopt black children and move to black neighborhoods? YES! Magazine’s Bailey Williams interviews the magazine’s contributor Angela Tucker about this topic, based on the magazine’s article, “What Happens When White Parents Adopt Black Children and Move to Black Neighborhoods“.

March 13, 2018This Unmute the Commute is about pedestrian safety in two chapters. Produced by Hebah Fisher.
Additional Resources:
Vision Zero Seattle
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series featuring stories that move you.

March 12, 2018Now we meet some women who have a hard hitting way of combating gender norms. KBCS’s Anjali Skilton has the story about women who box.
“Chicago Golden Gloves – Final Bouts” by Kate Gardiner is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
Producer Anjali Skilton

March 12, 2018Sometimes confused with the Blue Jay, meet the Stellar’s Jay, who can mimic others and likes to play. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama and Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, hiked the trails of Seward Park and came across the local bird with a playful side.
“Steller’s Jay” by shell game is licensed under CC BY-CD-ND 2.0
Producers ...

March 12, 2018Several political leaders and activists from the civil rights movement commemorated Bloody Sunday in Selma Alabama Sunday with a Jubilee and a march across the Edmond Pettis Bridge. Before the commemorative march across the bridge Rev. Dr. William Barber spoke about the state of civil rights today in front of Browns Chapel where the original ...

March 7, 201820 days, 20 different commutes. Today’s Unmute the Commute is brought to us by producer Jennie Cecil Moore.
For more details about Bruce’s commute challenge, check out his blog.
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series sponsored in part by Just One Trip, a King County Metro campaign to get you out of your car, starting with ...

March 6, 2018We meet some people who do a special kind of rescue work. Serenity Equine Rescue’s Patricia Clark, speaks with KBCS’s Judy Lindsay about her experience saving animals from hoarders.
Producer Judy Lindsay and Ruth Bly

February 28, 2018KBCS’s KD Hall interviews clinical psychologist, Chalon Ervin about how some of us can experience post traumatic stress disorder by constantly being exposed to tragedies in the media.
Plus,
Musician, Author and Theologian, Reverend Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou was arrested for praying in front of Ferguson, Missouri riot police, in 2014 during the protests for slain teenager, Michael ...

February 26, 2018KBCS’s KD Hall interviews clinical psychologist, Chalon Ervin about how some of us can experience post traumatic stress disorder by constantly being exposed to tragedies in the media.
Special thanks to Sumaya Dirie of the Seattle Globalist
Producers KD Hall, Yuko Kodama, and Ruth Bly

February 26, 2018This three-part series addresses common attitudes toward depression in the black community as KBCS’s KD Hall interviews Chalon Ervin, clinical psychologist.
Part 1 – Chalon Ervin discusses how depression manifests in the black community, along with how it is often overlooked and misdiagnosed
Part 2 – We continue the discussion with Chalon Ervin regarding common responses of ...

February 16, 2018Join us in another nature walk in Seattle’s Seward Park as KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks to Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, about our local Sword Ferns. Discover what characteristics distinguish them from other ferns and how many Sword Ferns in Seward Park are burdened by a mysterious problem causing them to brown ...

February 14, 2018Earlier this month crosscut.com brought together leaders and journalists from across the nation to the first ever Crosscut Festival. Executive Editor of Crosscut and KCTS 9 Greg Hanscom, hosted the keynote panel called “All the Presidents Men”. The panel featured former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum, former Barrack Obama speechwriter David Litt and former ...

February 7, 2018This nature segment highlights local plants that have been traditionally used for healing. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talk with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center’s Lead Naturalist, and they take another nature walk in Seattle’s Seward Park, to find out more.
“Douglas Fir” by diana_robinson is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

February 7, 2018When we think of human trafficking, we may think of sex trafficking or something that happens in another country, but anyone who is forced to do any kind of work against their will falls in the human trafficking category. Human trafficking happens right here in our Northwest neighborhoods. Hao Nguyen, Human Trafficking Case Worker at ...

February 7, 2018February 5th, 2018 was the scheduled trial date for the constitutional climate lawsuit, Juliana v. U.S., to be heard in the U.S. District Court of Oregon, but for now the trial is on hold. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with Aji Piper, one of the youth plaintiffs in the case. He shares why he joined the ...

February 2, 2018With the recent repeal of net neutrality, many wonder what a free internet would look like in the future. In Seattle, some are looking to municipal broadband for the answer. Public jurisdictions managing internet service for residents have found success in many smaller cities across the U.S. Locally, the organization, Upgrade Seattle is working with Seattle ...

February 2, 2018If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, the Crosscut Festival is Friday and Saturday (February 2nd and 3rd, 2018). The event brings together speakers from all over the region and country. The purpose is to encourage people to talk about some of the major issues facing our communities today. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke ...

January 26, 2018KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, about one tree that was the Tree of Life for the local Duwamish people: the Western Red Cedar.
“Thuja plicata” by Eric Hunt is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

January 22, 2018On Saturday, January 20th, 2018, tens of thousands of people marched through Seattle for the second annual Women’s March. Some criticized last year’s march for mostly representing white women, and not offering a broader message representing a diversity of women’s experiences. KBCS’s Casey Martin was at the march and asked people if this year’s march ...

January 18, 2018We bring you this excerpt from a talk by local activist, Nikita Oliver at the Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration at Garfield High School. The theme of the 2018 event was “Take a Knee for Justice”.
“Martin Luther King” by seatonsnet is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

January 12, 2018Over 300 people from around Washington state, including tribal members, descended on the State Capitol in Olympia this week, to instigate a campaign called “Climate Countdown”. They say time is running out to pass groundbreaking climate legislation and are demanding the legislature take meaningful action in the 2018 session. Martha Baskin brings us the story.
Produced ...

January 11, 2018America leads the world in wasting food. It’s estimated almost half of all produce in the U.S. is thrown away. “OSL – Operation Sack Lunch“, a nonprofit in Seattle, is trying to combat that problem by rescuing food before it’s wasted. KBCS’s Casey Martin traced how leftover food from local businesses became meals for the ...

January 5, 2018In this KBCS nature series segment, Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, talks to KBCS’s Yuko Kodama about the benefits of allowing fires burn away the undergrowth. They also discuss how the Douglas Fir tree’s thick bark helps protect it from forest fires and why the intensity of forest fires has increased since ...

December 27, 2017The Top Ten KBCS Produced Stories for 2017 are in. Have a listen!
Pussyhats
Building Tiny Houses for the Homeless
Sarah Vaughan: Queen of Bebop
Night Owl Bus Rider – Sleeping on the Bus
The Mosque on the Corner
A Commute for Methadone
American Muslim Youth Identity
Charleena Lyles Healing Ceremony
Building a House with a Bike
Martin Luther King Day Marcher’s Impressions
KBCS Recognized for ...

December 15, 2017This nature segment focuses on trees designated as old growth “Heritage Trees” in Seattle. Join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama and Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center’s Lead Naturalist, as they discuss some of Seattle’s largest and oldest trees.
“Old Growth Douglas fir and western hemlock” by F.Eatherington is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth ...

December 13, 2017Watch for these new journalists who just completed the Seattle Globalist’s 2017 Youth Apprentices Program! Click on their name to see their latest story. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama, proud to be along for the ride as a mentor this year!
Clockwise from top left: Zubeyda Ahmed, Karen Maniraho, Gavin Amos-Lopez, Aaron Jin, Robiel Bahta and Sumaya Dirie. ...

December 12, 2017In this series, Louie Gong, Eighth Generation founder and Seattle Nooksack artist, explains “native inspired” doesn’t mean a native artist crafted the piece. He also shares his story about how he got involved in a project to enliven a local transitional shelter with genuine native art. The goal was to inspire change in the lives ...

December 5, 2017This series is shared in observance of 16 days of activism, a United Nations campaign which started on November 25th, 2017 on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and ends this weekend, December 10th, 2017, on Human Rights Day.
Part 1 – Emy Johnston, a local advocate for domestic violence survivors, shares how ...

November 29, 2017KBCS received an award on November 27th, 2017 for the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism 2017 Katherine Schneider Journalism Award for Excellence in Reporting on Disability competition. Listen to the two award winning segments of Dorian Wants Transit Policy Toward Disabled Persons to Change, highlighting the experiences of a wheelchair user as they use King County Metro’s bus ...

November 25, 2017In this series, Matt Remle, a local Lakota activist, describes his experience in advocating for divestment fromfossil fuel projects.
Part 1 – Matt Remle describes how he advocated for the City of Seattle to divest from fossil fuel projects, He shares his perspective on how Wells Fargo Bank, a funder of the North Dakota pipeline, became ...

November 24, 2017Community organizer and independent journalist, Rosa Clemente was a keynote speaker at the Washington State Faculty of Color Conference earlier this month.
Parts 1 & 2 – Rosa Clemente explains what people of color face in academia
Part 3 & 4 – Rosa Clemente speaks about the history of the US/Puerto Rico relationship and how this plays out in ...

November 16, 2017In late September, 2017, Hurricane Maria, a category 4 hurricane ran its course through Puerto Rico. Rey Delgado is a local resident who traveled to Puerto Rico to help family and friends after the Hurricane. In this three-part series, Rey shares some of his experiences with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama.
Part 1 – Delgado describes how people ...

November 13, 2017How can you have a productive conversation about climate change, when the issue is so political? This segment focuses on how to encourage a productive conversation about climate change. KBCS Reporter, Angie Voyles Askham spoke with Joy DeLyria, Science Interpretation Program Supervisor at Seattle’s Pacific Science Center, about how to start a conversation on climate ...

November 11, 2017A federal judge has placed a temporary stay on President Trump’s ban on transgender soldiers. Meanwhile, transgender veterans struggle to navigate for appropriate healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with transgender U.S. army veteran Brooke Wylie about her experiences in advocating for services.
Produced by Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

November 10, 2017Conifers are a family of trees which include the Western Hemlock, Douglas-fir, Pine, and many others. This nature segment focuses on how they pollinate. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama takes a nature walk in Seattle’s Seward Park with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to talk about how Conifers release pollen and reproduce. Also, find out how ...

November 10, 2017People of color served in the Vietman war in greater numbers then their percentage of the population. Native Americans had the highest record of military service per capita of any ethnic group.
KBCS Reporter, Jim Cantu interviewed Philip H. Red Eagle of the Dakota, Sioux, S’Klallam and Steilacom tribes. Red Eagle is a Native Veteran, Writer, Carver, Co-founder of ...

November 7, 2017A 2014 report from the Guardian found that 28 of the 50 states had no regulation on the sales of guns, the use of locking devices or gun shows. Within the past year, two gun responsibility measures were passed in Washington state. This four-part series addresses gun violence and updates on recently passed and proposed ...

November 7, 2017The Backbone Campaign helps organize social demonstrations and trains global change agents in artful protest, organizing and kayaktivism.
Listen to a series of segments from KBCS Reporter, David Joseph’s visit to the Backbone Campaign’s activist training camp.
Part 1 – We speak with Shilo Britt, a Bellingham participant in the Backbone Campaign who attended a local training ...

November 6, 2017How do bears stock up on berries this fall season for their hibernation? KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to discuss why bears eat lots of berries to stock up on energy reserves, in order to make it through the winter season. They also discuss some of our ...

November 6, 2017This series focuses on the impact of domestic violence on the child.
KBCS’s K.D. Hall speaks with Dr. Tracee Parker, from Coalition Ending Gender Based Violence. Dr. Parker is a domestic violence expert who also formerly ran the Safe Havens Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Grant Program.
Hall also interviewed Shawn Carter, Ingraham High School football coach, who shares ...

November 3, 2017In this nature segment, KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks with Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, Ed Dominguez, about discuss spiders. Dominguez shares how spiders keep the insect population in check. Dominguez also explains why having spiders around is actually a good thing.
“Spider” by Ruth and Dave is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

November 1, 2017Counselor and Author, Dr. Cat Saunders, has a love of working with people who are dying. She’s a death doula. Listen to this two-part series on how she approaches her work.
Producer Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

October 27, 2017The 45th District race will likely determine which party controls the State Senate. KBCS’s Gregg Selby interviewed candidate Manka Dhingra. Her opponent, Jinyoung Englund , had a scheduling conflict, so we used her responses to similar questions that were asked of the candidates at a September 18th election forum hosted by the League of Women ...

October 27, 2017KBCS continues its coverage of the 2017 Washington State General Election. KBCS’s Gregg Selby interviewed incumbent candidate Nancy Tosta Her challenger, Darla Green of the “Burien Proud, Burien First” slate of City Council candidates did not respond to our request for an interview or written statement.

October 27, 2017Bellevue City Council Position Number 4 is an open seat. KBCS’s Gregg Selby spoke with Bellevue City Council candidates Jared Nieuwenhuis and Karol Brown. They are running for Bellevue City Council Position 4.
Procucers Gregg Selby and Ruth Bly

October 27, 2017Seattle City Council Position number eight, is an open seat and one of the two citywide, at-large positions on the Seattle City Council. KBCS’s Gregg Selby interviewed candidates John Grant and Teresa Mosqueda.

October 27, 2017Why do leaves change color in the fall? KBCS’s Yuko Kodama joins Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to talk about the magic of the fall season and why this phenomenon occurs.
“leaves” by Muffet is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

October 27, 2017Election Day is around the corner, and KBCS brings you elections coverage for the 2017 Washington State General Election. In this series, KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Association of Washington Cities CEO, Peter King, about Special Purpose Districts.
Producer Yuko Kodama

October 27, 2017Why should we study up on judicial candidates? KBCS’s Esther Little Dove John spoke with Stephanie Cirkovich, from the League of Women Voters about judicial races.
Below are some resources to study up on judicial candidates:
vote411.org
votingforjudges.org
ballotpedia.org
Producer Esther Little Dove John

October 27, 2017On Wednesday night, Low Power FM station, KVRU, Ranier Valley Radio, hosted a Seattle Mayoral candidate forum with finalists Cary Moon and Jenny Durkan. The candidates responded to questions from three former Mayoral candidates and several South Seattle journalists.
KBCS pulled highlights from of the KVRU hosted, Seattle Mayoral Candidates Forum. The full forum is also ...

October 24, 2017This week, KBCS continues it coverage of the 2017 Washington State General Election. We now turn to the Tacoma Mayoral elections with candidates Victoria Woddards and Jim Merritt. KBCS’s Gol Hoghooghi interviewed each of the candidates individually for KBCS at their respective campaign headquarters.
Producer Gol Hoghooghi

October 24, 2017During World War II the United States had a shortage of labor. In response, the government imported ‘braceros’ or workers from Mexico. On average, 200,000 Mexican workers per year were brought to the US between 1942 to 1964.
Seattle University Modern Languages and Women Studies Professor and Director of Latin American Studies, Dr. Gabriella Gutiérrez y ...

October 24, 2017It’s not often that school-age children get to experience the bounty of food grown on farms in Seattle’s fertile neighboring valleys. “Farm to table” is best known as a culinary experience at high end restaurants. One after-school and pre-school care program is turning that around. Not only are they sourcing locally grown food with the ...

October 20, 2017Find out about the world of bats. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, about how our local bat population help keep the insect population in check, although they are often perceived as being simply pests for us humans. They also discuss how bats make it through the winter.
“bat” ...

October 18, 2017On October 13th, 2017, protesters gathered in downtown Bellevue to protest Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. DeVos was in town to speak at the Washington Policy Center’s annual dinner. Meanwhile, about a dozen counter protesters gathered nearby in support of DeVos. KBCS’s Ruth Bly and Devin Williams spoke with individuals from both protests. In addition to ...

October 16, 2017Four weeks after Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria hit, Puerto Rico still reels from the impacts of the natural disaster. According to accounts from the family of local Seattleite, Bettina Carey, lines to buy gas are eight hours long, and banks are open only a couple of hours a day – which means a lot ...

October 13, 2017KBCS’s Yuko Kodama joins Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to talk about why birds in the Pacific Northwest are behaving differently. Find out why some birds in our region are acting like its spring to get a little romance.
“Pigeon Paring” by Ingrid Taylar is licensed under CC-BY 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth ...

October 10, 2017Imagine being a US Citizen and being deported to a country where you don’t know anyone? This happened in the 1930’s here in America. In recognition of Hispanic Heritage, this series focuses on the history of immigration and repatriation of Mexican immigrants in the US. In this two-part series, KBCS’s Yuko Kodama recently spoke with Dr. ...

October 10, 2017According to Frontline, immigration detention facilities have held an average of 30,000 detainees per day since 2008. KBCS’s Jim Cantu spoke with Ashley Brown, a mother whose husband of ten years is being held in the Northwest Detention facility. She describes how her husband was detained by ICE agents as he stopped to buy breakfast on ...

October 6, 2017For this nature series segment, we focus on insects with stingers. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, about how to avoid yellow jackets and wasps during your autumn walk in the woods.
“wasps” by Bert Reimer is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

September 29, 2017This nature segment focuses on a major earthquake event that occurred in Washington state about 1100 years ago. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talk to Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, about how a violent earthquake that occurred about 1100 years ago flung plants and trees into Lake Washington.
“Another ghost forest” by Jean-François Chénier is ...

September 27, 2017This two-part KBCS nature series segment focuses on how the Seattle is subject to earthquakes as KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center’s Lead Naturalist.
Part 1 – Yuko Kodama speaks with Ed Dominguez regarding the Seattle Fault Zone and the history of earthquakes in the Puget Sound area
Part 2 – Yuko Kodama ...

September 26, 2017We take a look at what the Tulalip tribe is doing to help the homeless in our area. Earlier this year, KBCS’s Jim Cantu spoke with some of the participants at the Tulalip tribes training program where they were building tiny houses for the homeless.

September 21, 2017Faced with a growing opioid epidemic, King County and the City of Seattle have approved two safe injection sites in King County. The Seattle Mayor approved one to be located in Seattle. The location for another is still under discussion. A safe consumption site in our region would be the first in this country. Meanwhile, ...

September 21, 2017On September 20th, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced a lawsuit against the GEO Group, the second-largest private prison provider in the country, which operates the Northwest Detention Center. The state’s lawsuit asks the court to order the company to give up the profits netted from paying detainees up to one dollar a day for their work ...

September 18, 2017In January, two safe injection sites were approved for King County. One was approved for Seattle and the location for the other is being discussed. If the sites are built, they would be the first safe injection sites in the United States. Caleb Banta-Green, Principal Research Scientist at the University of Washington’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse ...

September 15, 2017The Cascade Mountain Range is a massive collection of mountains that spans all throughout Washington. Join KBCS’s Yuko Kodama as she talks to Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center’s Lead Naturalist, as they discuss various aspects of the range, including past, present, and potential volcanic activity.
“More Than You Ever Know…” by John Westrock is licensed under ...

September 14, 2017Though Mexican Independence was formalized on September 27 1821, September 16th is celebrated as the awakening of the independence movement.
This Saturday is the 207th anniversary of the Grito De Dolores, or Mexican Independence Day. It’s celebrated in Mexico city with the clanging of a bell as revolutionary hero, Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang in ...

September 11, 2017The debate over safe injection sites in King County is a hot topic. The model for such sites is Insite. The first such site in North America, it’s located in Vancouver, British Columbia and offers a room with harm reduction supplies and staff who know how to resuscitate people after an overdose.
The podcast, Cited, dives into ...

September 8, 2017KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, about wind patterns in the Pacific Northwest. Find out about the characteristics of the winds in our area and why it is windier on some days more than others.
“Wind” by Schaduw Zijde is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth ...

September 8, 2017The Trump administration recently announced a repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program which shelters young undocumented people who were brought to the U.S. as children, in good standing with the law and who are educated. There are 800,000 of these Dreamers throughout the country and 18,000 of them reside in Washington ...

September 7, 2017In response to President Trump terminating DACA, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal will host a tele-town hall on Thursday, September 7 at 5:30 p.m.
During the tele-town hall, Jayapal will discuss the impact of DACA on working families in Washington. Constituents are encouraged to call and ask questions. Constituents are encouraged participate in the town hall by calling ...

September 1, 2017The Trump Administration is rolling back Obama-era restrictions on the federal government giving military gear to local police forces. KBCS contributing reporter, James Trimarco spoke with former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper about what this means for our region.

August 31, 2017For Black Business Month, you’ll listen to a story on the riots which ended Black Wall Street, a community in Tulsa Oklahoma, which was home to a thriving black economy and vibrant neighborhood. In 1921, this area was raized to the ground by an armed white mob. 103 year old Dr. Olivia Hooker was hiding under a table ...

August 25, 2017The International District, or I-D is sometimes referred to as Chinatown. But how familiar are you with Seattle’s Japantown?
From the late 1880’s through 1942, This International District neighborhood bustled with grocers, laundries, and variety stores – and had a professional class of doctors, lawyers, and architects.
But according to King County, Federal Executive Order 9066 labeled ...

August 25, 2017What do Beethoven and a local bird have in common? KBCS’s Yuko Kodama recently visited Seattle’s Seward Park with Ed Domingez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to discuss the song of a little brown bird in our midst: the Song Sparrow.
“Song Sparrow” by jerrygabby1 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

August 23, 2017For this KBCS Studio Session, we are joined in our studios by The W Lovers. Enjoy this beautiful blend of Country and Americana harmonies as we recently filmed the duo performing at Bellevue College’s TV studio with KBCS’s Iaan Hughes.
Producer Ruth Bly

August 21, 2017This KBCS nature segment focuses on an aquatic mammal named the Muskrat. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama joins Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist at Seattle’s Seward Park, to discuss the critter’s features, diet, behaviors, and how it differs from its look-a-like: the Beaver.
“Muskrat on Seedskadee NWR” by USFWS Mountain Prairie is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Producers Yuko ...

August 18, 2017It’s estimated that 1 in 6 men will experience some form of sexual victimization before age 18. Many times it takes years or decades for a survivor to share their story. DJ Burr is a Psychotherapist and sexual abuse survivor. He also produces the podcast, Journey On: Survivors Healing from Sexual Abuse and Assault.
KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke ...

August 17, 2017Legal representation for undocumented immigrants is a large need to fill. In April, the King County Council approved funding to assist this need. Even with the county’s funding, a gap remains. At a recent YES! Magazine panel, immigrant experts gathered to discuss support for sanctuary services and legal support. This four-part series features excerpts from ...

August 11, 2017When people in the public eye are noted as a sex offender in the media, how does the experience impact those who have survived sexual abuse? KBCS’s KD Hall interviews Kristal Clark, a sexual abuse survivor and founder of Rock Paper Scissors. Krtisal shares her view of recent highly publicized events regarding celebrities being accused of ...

August 9, 2017Late last year, Plaza Roberto Maestas opened 112 low income housing units in Beacon Hill, along with a new central plaza. Recently, food carts have also been added to the neighborhood. KBCS’s Jim Cantu spoke with food cart business owners and Miguel Maestas, the El Centro De La Raza Housing and Economic Development Director.
“JOH_2200” by ...

August 4, 2017What’s waterfront on Lake Washington today was underwater before the Ballard Locks were built. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama finds out more from Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, as they take a walk in Seattle’s Seward Park and discuss the history of the composure of the lake.
“Lake Washington” by Rebecca Suchland is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Producers ...

August 2, 2017Student loan debt hangs over borrowers with no chance of reprieve. Many try to avoid loans like the plague, but find it’s not always possible due to the rising costs of higher education. KBCS reporter David Joseph talks with students about how they pay for college.
“Money” by purpleslog is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Producer David ...

August 2, 2017YES! Magazine’s Susan Gleason speaks with investigative reporter Jay Gabriel about details associated with New York state’s new kind of scholarship program that aims to make college free. Find out the unique way New York is giving students a hand paying for college.
“Statue of Liberty_0900” by gmacfadyen is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

July 31, 2017Starvation Alley is a local organic cranberry and cranberry juice producer with a mission. They encourage conventional cranberry farmers who want to grow organically, by purchasing their berries at a premium as the conventional farm makes the three year transition to organic. In this KBCS local food segment, company co-founder Jessica Tantisook speaks about the business side of ...

July 31, 2017This nature segment focuses on the Pacific Madrone, a berry producing local tree. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama recently took a walk in Seattle’s Seward Park with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to discuss the unique characteristics and history of this tree. Find out about its name and red berries, which are eaten by many animals.
“Madrone Arbutus menziesii” ...

July 28, 2017Local organizers have prepared Initiative 940 for the 2018 ballot to require additional police training, first aid application to a victim of an officer involved shooting, and other points. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with Leslie Cushman from De-escalate Washington about the initiative effort.
Producer Yuko Kodama

July 28, 2017YES! Magazine’s Susan Gleason speaks with editor James Trimarco about a Solution for Keeping Independent Businesses Local called RedTire, short for the phrase “Redefine Your Retirement.” Included in the discussion is how RedTire functions as a business retirement matchmaking service to help rural communities.
“farming” by *w* is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

July 21, 2017This KBCS nature segment focuses on the horsetail plant, a local plant which has been around since dinosaurs walked the earth. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama took a walk through Seattle’s Seward Park with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, to discuss the unique characteristics of this plant. Included in the discussion is the fact that horsetail plants reproduce with spores and is ...

July 19, 2017West Coast activists play a major role in determining the fate of the of fossil fuel industry. YES! Magazine’s Susan Gleason speaks with investigative reporter Arun Gupta about the progress of the movement and how communities can adapt to using less fossil fuels.
“Seattle” by Maciek Lulko is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

July 14, 2017San Juan Island Sea Salt is a local sea salt farm on Seattle’s San Juan Island. In this KBCS local food segment, the company’s founder Brady Ryan explains how sea salt is farmed and how it differs from table salt.
“Salt in the Dead Sea” by Yair Aronshtam is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Producer: Yuko Kodama

July 14, 2017This KBCS nature segment focuses on a small bird found locally, the Chickadee. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama joins Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist at Seattle’s Seward Park, to find out about the unique characteristics of the two types of Chickadees found in the Seattle area: the Black-capped Chickadee and the Chestnut-backed Chickadee. Also included in the discussion ...

July 12, 2017Anchor businesses are large institutions, such as hospitals and universities, with large budgets. YES! Magazine’s Susan Gleason speaks with reporter Araz Hachadourian about how an increasing number of of anchor businesses are choosing to help their local communities by buying and hiring locally, instead of choosing whichever company offers them the best deal. To find out more, check ...

July 11, 2017Seattle continues to grapple with the police killing of Charleena Lyles, the pregnant black woman gunned down after she reported a burglary to the Seattle Police Department. On July 2nd 2017, a local nonprofit held a healing ceremony for the black community at Seattle’s Seward Park, and KBCS’s Casey Martin was there.
Producer Casey Martin

July 10, 2017Every year on July 7th is Global Forgiveness Day; a day to reflect on forgiveness, how to forgive, and how to be forgiven. In light of this recent celebration, KBCS’s Gol Hoghooghi spoke with people on the streets of Seattle about forgiveness, what it means to them, and the impact it has had in their ...

July 10, 2017In this nature segment we explore the world of rabbits as KBCS’s Yuko Kodama takes a walk in Seattle’s Seward Park with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Lead Naturalist. They discuss the difference between hares and rabbits and some of the characteristics of the cottontail rabbit.
“The rabbit 2” by Tiago Cabral is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

July 7, 2017Do you ever catch yourself questioning how you can possibly make a difference in another person’s life? Lunch lady Valerie Galmish is retiring from being the lunchroom manager at Bellevue’s Big Picture School. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with her about her work, and Galmish shares why she is so passionate about grasping each opportunity to ...

July 5, 2017According to the Seattle Times, 506 people from 67 countries were sworn in on July 4th at Seattle Center’s annual naturalization ceremony for 2017. KBCS reporter, Casey Martin captured the spirit of the event. Listen in on the voices of some who became newly American.
“Flag Square – Illustration” by DonkeyHotey is licensed under CC BY 2.0

July 4, 2017Jazz singer, Sarah Vaughan is one of the most notable vocalists of the 20th century. But she wasn’t known for her vocal talent growing up. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama interviews local jazz historian and writer, Elaine Hayes.
Part 1 – Find out how Sassy got her groove in the 1920’s.
Part 2 – Explores the world of Bebop, and ...

July 3, 2017Find out about a bird called the Purple Finch in this KBCS nature segment. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist in Seattle’s Seward Park, about how this bird has brought a new sound to Seward Park.
“Ready to Go” by Rick Derevan is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and ...

June 28, 2017When KBCS asked Eastside homeless services how homelessness looks on the Eastside versus west of Lake Washington, we were told that Eastside homeless doesn’t usually look like cardboard signs at freeway on-ramps and sleeping bags on the street. They said it looks more like the commuter in work clothes on the bus or the person ...

June 28, 2017When you don’t have a home, where do you go to take a shower or do your laundry? KBCS’s Jim Cantu spoke with New Bethlehem Day Center Program Manager Natalia Pierson about the services provided to homeless families on the Eastside. This Kirkland facility serves 20 to 50 people a day.
Photo – by Rui Duarte

June 26, 2017In this week’s Nature segment, KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Center Lead Naturalist in Seattle’s Seward Park, about the ups and downs of birds foraging on a tree. Listen as they discuss the interactions of small bird called the Brown Creeper with another bird called the Red-breasted nuthatch.
“Red-breasted Nuthatch” by tombenson76 is licensed ...

June 23, 2017This week, highlights of Interrupting Whiteness – What is Whiteness? What is the culture of it, and how is it a system of oppression? The recording is from a PechaKucha event held at the Seattle Public Library earlier this month. This five-part series includes excerpts from various speakers at the public event.
Part 1 – Roger Fernandes of the Lower ...

June 21, 2017Find out more about the sights and sounds of one species of bird in our area, the Dark-eyed Junco in this KBCS nature segment. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Lead Naturalist in Seattle’s Seward Park, about the beautiful small sparrow bird.
“Dark-eyed Junco” by Henry McLin is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama ...

June 21, 2017Naomi Wachira is a Kenyan-American music artist living in Yakima today. KBCS’s Sonya Green asked Wachira about her approach to music at our studios a few years ago. Also included in this segment is Naomi Wachira’s new release “Heart of a Man”. Naomi Wachira will be performing at SoFar in Seattle on June 29th.
“Naomi Wachira ...

June 21, 2017What are those birds singing about? Find out as KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks with Ed Dominguez, Audubon Lead Naturalist, in Seattle’s Seward Park. They discuss the different types of songs that birds sing as well as their motivation for singing.
“Song Sparrow 3/8/1b” by mahlness is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

June 20, 2017The grand opening of Seattle’s new Jimi Hendrix Park happened earlier this month. Conversations about dedicating the park to the guitar legend started 11 years ago. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with Maisha Barnett, Project Manager for the Jimi Hendrix Park Foundation, about the new park.
“Jimi Hendrix” by Francisca is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

June 19, 2017Do you know what the most dangerous street in all of Seattle is? Chances are you’re thinking of Aurora, or maybe Lake City Way. But you may be surprised to learn that it’s Rainier Ave S. And, you may be even more surprised to learn how extensive the problem is – on average, there are ...

June 19, 2017Is is possible for electric rail trains to transport freight and distribute renewable energy? YES! Magazine senior editor Stephen Miller has been looking into new proposals for a nationwide electric rail. He speaks with YES! Magazine’s Susan Gleason about the concept being promoted by a local organization on Vashon Island.

June 13, 2017The anti-Sharia protest and its counter-protest in downtown Seattle on Saturday was a face-off of a smaller group of anti-Sharia protestors and a colorful and loud, larger group of counter-protesters. Between the two groups was a zone of about 50 feet lined with rows of police. It was a noisy affair with counter-protestors blaring horns ...

June 13, 2017Find out more about Seattle’s official city bird, the Great Blue Heron, and their nesting habits in this KBCS nature segment. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks to Ed Dominguez, Audubon Lead Naturalist in Seattle’s Seward Park, as they visit a Great Blue Heron rookery.
“Great Blue Heron on Nest” by Mick Thompson is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
Producers Yuko ...

June 12, 2017Ramadan, the month where Muslims fast, is May-June this year. For this week’s Unmute the Commute, we tagged along with some fasting Muslims for their daily commute to the mosque for dinner and prayers. Produced by Hebah Fisher.
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series highlighting commuter stories, supported in part by King County Metro’s Just ...

June 8, 2017In this week’s Nature segment KBCS’s Yuko Kodama talks to Audubon Lead Natualist Ed Dominguez about local plants that attract hummingbirds. Included in the discussion are the Oregon Grape and the Salal plants.
“Hummingbird” by tciriello is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

June 6, 2017As anti-Muslim rhetoric continues locally, and around the U.S., we turn to the Owner of modest fashion Boutique Al Firdaus, Chema Oh. She shares how Muslim women are increasingly becoming targets for the way they dress in this current political climate. She speaks with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama.
Photo: Courtesy of Bellmon

June 6, 2017Catch a glimpse of the lucrative industry of modest wear, which includes hijabs and abayas. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with Boutique Al Firdaws Owner, Chema Oh. Her boutique is in the Muslim Association of Puget Sound mosque in Redmond.

June 5, 2017For today’s Unmute the Commute, the story behind the lady passing out apples and oranges on Seattle buses. From KBCS’s Yuko Kodama.
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series highlighting commuter stories, supported in part by King County Metro’s Just One Trip.

May 31, 2017Did you know that our forests hold licorice treats? Find out how to spot licorice fern on your next hike with Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center lead naturalist, and KBCS’s Yuko Kodama.
“ferns” by Muffet is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

May 31, 2017In 2012, Barack Obama sign a piece of legislation called the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, expanding what can be done with crowd funding. YES! Magazine highlights a recent story regarding how this rule change could potentially open up more funding for affordable housing. YES! Magazine’s Susan Gleason speaks with Senior Editor James Trimarco to ...

May 30, 2017Washington state has the fifth largest homeless population in the country, at about 20,000 individuals as estimated in 2016. When night comes, there are few places where housing insecure individuals can go to keep warm. Especially in the colder months, buses often provide warmth and dry shelter for a few hours. Today on Unmute the ...

May 25, 2017What is it that gives flamenco dancing its passionate flare? Listen to the stories that are the foundation for Flamenco dance. Belen Maya is a professional Flamenco Dancer from Spain who describes where the soul of this passionate art form comes from with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama.

May 25, 2017Farms throughout the state are busy with work for migrant laborers as the growing and harvesting season ramps up. A group of farm workers in the Skagit Valley formed Familias Unidas Por La Justicia, or Families United for Justice, in 2013 to advocate for better working conditions. Earlier this month, the International Labor Rights Forum ...

May 22, 2017Have you ever wondered what it’s like for veterans to get around town? For this week’s Unmute the Commute, ride along with us to the VA center in Seattle. Produced by Casey Martin.
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series highlighting commuter stories, supported in part by King County Metro’s Just One Trip.

May 19, 2017KBCS’s Yuko Kodama joins Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, Ed Dominguez, to learn more about how Crows teach their young. Also find out what crows look for when they’re in the market for a home, in this week’s Nature segment.
“Nesting Crow” by tim ellis is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

May 18, 2017For kids growing up in immigrant families, life can be a mashup of the harmonies and dissonances in navigating the cultures. A group of University of Washington students founded the South Asian Fusion acapella group, Awaaz.
We had a few of the members of the group in our studios recently. They’re Team Manager and vocalist, Sonali ...

May 16, 2017May 15 is the International Day of Families as recognised by the United Nations. Today we celebrate all caregivers in families – parents, grandparents, siblings… all parental figures! For this week’s Unmute the Commute story, here is a parent who believes in raising her family on the bus. Produced by Hebah Fisher.
Unmute the Commute is ...

May 10, 2017As the weather warms up, you may be considering walking around town more. And yet, some of our neighbours, like Angie Aldrich in Issaquah, walk all year ’round as their means of transportation. For this week’s Unmute the Commute, join us for a walk around Issaquah. Produced by Hans Anderson.
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series highlighting ...

May 4, 2017The fashion of modest Muslim, Jewish and Sikh men and women is the inspiration of the Malikah Festival held this weekend. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama interviewed Chema Oh, organizer for the Malikah Festival and Owner of Boutique Al Firdaws located in Redmond’s Muslim Association of Puget Sound (MAPS) building this week. They discuss the power of ...

May 4, 2017Attracting wildlife into your backyard or apartment balcony can help communities thrive with wildlife including pollinators and birds. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama visited Julie O’Donald, National Wildlife Federation Habitat Steward, in rainy Brier, Washington over the weekend, about how to foster spaces for wildlife.
The National Wildlife Federation is hosting Seattle Wildlife in the City Week through ...

May 1, 2017What if you biked everywhere? On today’s Unmute the Commute, meet Fred Miller. Produced by Hebah Fisher. Story discovered through King County Metro’s Just One Trip campaign.
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series highlighting commuter stories, supported in part by King County Metro’s Just One Trip.

April 28, 2017This week marks Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office and opinions vary on how he’s doing. KBCS’s Gol Hoghooghi visited the Bellevue College campus where students gave their take on how President Trump is- or isn’t – fulfilling his campaign promises.
“Flag Square – Illustration” by DonkeyHotey is licensed under CC BY 2.0

April 26, 2017The Langston Hughes African American Film Festival begins Thursday, April 27, 2017 and runs through Sunday the 30th. Click here for the lineup.
Also check out an interview with the event’s Consulting Producer, Karen Toering and with Jennia Frederique Aponte, Co-Director of one of featured film, 90 Days.

April 26, 2017What role can ordinary citizens have in ensuring scientific programs and studies retain funding? YES! Magazine’s Susan Gleason speaks with Steven Miller, one of the magazine’s Senior Editors, about stepped up activism outlined in the recent article After the March for Science, Keep Moving. They discuss why science cannot be silent.
“I’m So Dizzy” by J Mark Dodds is licensed under CC ...

April 25, 2017On April 13th, 2017, the US dropped a massive bomb in Afghanistan. Reports are that some locals thought a nuclear bomb had been used on them. Yes! Magazine’s Susan Gleason speaks with Yes! Magazine Senior Editor, James Trimarco about the impacts of the bombing.
“MC-130E USAFE” by Rob Schleiffert is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

April 24, 2017Remember seeing poetry on King County and Sound Transit buses a few years ago? After a brief hiatus, Poetry on Buses coordinated by 4Culture returns this Monday 24 April to the Puget Sound. KBCS’s Casey Martin brings us this week’s Unmute the Commute story.
For more details about the Poetry on Buses project, including the launch ...

April 22, 2017The Romany are a minority group who’ve been persecuted for centuries throughout Europe. In the US, our exposure to the Roma is often through their art of flamenco music and dance. Belen Maya is a professional Flamenco Dancer from Spain. She comes from a family of flamenco dancers, and Roma blood. Maya shares how she ...

April 22, 2017On April 15th, thousands of Seattle protesters held a Tax March asking President Trump to finally release his tax returns. While the White House said no one cares about the President’s tax returns, more than 180 communities across the country held marches. In Seattle, the activists had more than tax returns to talk about, including ...

April 18, 2017One of many groups troubled by the Trump administration’s policies is Scientists. On April 22nd, scientists around the nation are marching for science. One of the organizers for Seattle’s March for Science is Dr. Jennifer Pang, and she spoke with KBCS’s Ruth Bly about Saturday’s local march.
“I’m So Dizzy” by J Mark Dodds is licensed under ...

April 17, 2017We go outside to talk about the life force of trees. The circulation of tons of fluid in them called the Cambium layer. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaks with Seward Park Audubon Center lead naturalist Ed Dominguez.
Photo: Courtesy of David Marvin
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

April 17, 2017We take you out to an owl vometorium. The place owls go to do their daily duty of sitting on the throne and coughing up the remains of the night before. Seward Park Audubon Center lead naturalist, Ed Dominguez treks through the park with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama.
“Barred Owl” by James Mann is licensed under CC ...

April 17, 2017Public health officials have called the opiate epidemic the worst drug crisis in American history – with overdose deaths nearly tripling since 1999. About 50 years ago, clinics starting treating opiate addiction with methadone, or controlled doses of an opiate to slowly wean patients off of their addiction. On today’s Unmute the Commute, we ride ...

April 13, 2017In Tacoma, detainees at the immigration detention center are continuing their hunger strike. They’ve stopped working at the facility, making phone calls, purchasing from the commissary and sleeping in addition to not eating. Demands to GEO, the private firm operating the detention center are better pay to run the facility, better food, access to healthcare ...

April 13, 2017KBCS’s Yuko Kodama recently took a walk with Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, Ed Dominguez. Find out which traits are unique to this family of birds, and also discover how ravens and crows are different.
“Crow” by RDW. Photography is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

April 11, 2017On today’s Unmute the Commute, join us for a ferry ride between two worlds – the busy, bustling streets of Seattle’s Downtown, to the peaceful, idyllic farmlands of Kitsap County. Bob Fisher’s daily commute is over 2 hours each way to shuffle between both. Produced by Jennie Cecil-Moore.
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series highlighting ...

April 10, 2017Poet, Terrance Hayes speaks at Bellevue College –Thursday, April 20, 2017
Terrance Hayes is the author of Lighthead (Penguin 2010), winner of the 2010 National Book Award and finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. How To Be Drawn (Penguin 2015), his most recent collection of poems, was a finalist for the 2015 National Book Award, the ...

April 6, 2017Globalist Editorial Director, Venice Buhain interviews their writer, Agatha Pacheco about the anxiety felt by the immigrant community with increased ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids throughout the nation.
Photo: Courtesy of Michael Fleshman

April 4, 2017What does Seattle’s lawsuit against the Trump administration mean for us? On March 29th, 2017, the city of Seattle filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for threatening to withhold federal grant money from cities like Seattle, who don’t comply with enforcing federal immigration laws. YES! Magazine’s Susan Gleason and James Trimarco get into the ...

April 3, 2017We ride buses so easily today that we may forget our nation’s history just 60 years ago. Today on Unmute the Commute, join us on a Freedom Ride. Produced by former KBCS News Director Sonya Green and Winona Hollins Hauge of Project Pilgrimage. Former Freedom Rider Dr. Bernard Lafayette will be in Seattle on April ...

April 3, 2017In 1961, Dr. Bob Zellner was a 20 year old student in Alabama when he joined a march to protest the murder of a black man who had registered to vote. You’ll listen to him describe how this nearly cost him his life.
Dr. Bob Zellner is a civil rights leader who hosts tours on the ...

March 28, 2017The 2018 budget blueprint is slated to cut nearly all areas of government, outside of the military and immigration enforcement. It defunds domestic programs for the arts, humanities, and public broadcasting. It also cuts deeply into assistance for rural communities, where the president garnered significant support during the election. YES! Magazine’s Susan Gleason speaks with ...

March 27, 2017Washington has many places to visit, and for today’s Unmute the Commute, we’re taking you to one of the unlikely places you can get to by bus. Transit Riders Union Pauline VenSenus takes us to Snoqualmie Falls. Produced by Whitney Henry Lester.
Photo: Snoqualmie Falls, Kelly Clark
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series highlighting commuter stories, supported ...

March 27, 2017How are salmon impacted by a two degree change in the water? We look at how our region’s salmon will be impacted by climate change. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama interviewed Dr. Rachel White, University of Washington Bothell instructor and researcher and Dr. Jim Winton, Northwest Fisheries Science Center at the US Geological Survey, Chief of Fish ...

March 27, 2017Iranians were among those targeted by President Trump’s now blocked travel ban issued Monday, and was struck down by a federal judge yesterday. Meanwhile, Seattle’s local Iranian community prepares to celebrate their Norooz, the Persian New Year celebration. It takes place every vernal equinox, which this year, is on March 20th. KBCS’s Gol Hoghooghi shares ...

March 24, 2017Maybe you’ve been noticing the hammering sounds on telephone poles and your chimney this season. Our region’s Woodpeckers are preparing for the spring. Ed Dominguez, Seward Park Audubon Center’s Lead Naturalist, takes you on a nature walk through Seattle’s Seward Park with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama to talk about these birds.
“Woodpecker” by allspice1 is licensed under ...

March 22, 2017The difficulties of being a prison inmate don’t end when you finish serving your time. KBCS’s Jim Cantu spoke with former inmates about the challenges of transitioning out.
“A-B Block Corridor” by ahockley is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

March 20, 2017We explore our region’s original commutes along the water highways of the Salish Sea and Pacific Coast. Listen in on interviews with the late Quileute Canoe Leader, Sunny Woodruff, and United Nations for All Tribes Foundation Board Chair and Makah tribal member, Jeff Smith . Today’s story is brought to you by KBCS’s Yuko Kodama.
Unmute ...

March 17, 2017They help us start our day off, guide us with directions and offer a final ‘Have a good Day’ on our way home. March 18th is Transit Driver Appreciation day. KBCS’s Hebah Fisher brings us this special story from our new series Unmute the Commute.
Unmute the Commute is a weekly series highlighting commuter stories, supported in ...

March 15, 2017Seattle activists have recently had success in redirecting local funding toward services like affordable housing and education. One of those successes came about last fall, when the building of a new police station was halted in a movement known as Block the Bunker. KBCS’s Jim Cantu spoke with Melissa Hellmann from YES! Magazine about that ...

March 14, 2017On the third Sunday of each month, a mosque in Redmond opens its doors as a free clinic to all, regardless of faith, race, gender and income. It’s held at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound or MAPS, and it serves anyone, whether or not they have health care – no questions asked. A small ...

March 10, 2017KBCS’s Yuko Kodama recently took a walk with Seward Park Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, Ed Dominguez. Take a listen to some of the gulls, Kinglets and song birds they heard on our latest segment on our KBCS nature series,.
“Ruby-crowned Kinglet” by Mick Thompson is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

March 9, 2017Organic farm and pasture land is scarce in some parts of the country, and Washington state is no different. Find out why a recent purchase of 284 acres of prime organic farmland was cause for celebration; not just by PCC farmland trust that bought it and saved it from conversion into 59 estate homes, but ...

March 8, 2017Recent news has been buzzing with stories about terrorist attacks, and another presidential ban on six Muslim-majority countries. In this story, we highlight our local Muslim neighbors. The Muslim Association of Puget Sound is an active participant in our local community. Local American Muslim youth share their experiences from one project that provides food for ...

March 3, 2017Recently, KBCS’s Yuko Kodama took a walk in Seward Park with Audubon Center Lead Naturalist, Ed Dominguez to discuss owl habitat. This is part of a new KBCS nature series, to learn about our local urban environment.
“Who Are You??” by Big Grey Mare is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Producers Yuko Kodama and Ruth Bly

March 3, 2017Potential Washington state legislation is being criticized as discriminatory toward the transgender community. Initiative 1552 would force transgender people to use bathrooms and locker rooms based on the gender on their birth certificates. Hundreds of friends, family members, and supporters rallied last weekend at the Tacoma Campus of the University of Washington. Their message is ...

February 27, 2017Earlier this month, the Seattle Public Library and Pecha Kucha Seattle presented American Visionaries – Immigration. Innovation & Freedom. Jasmine Zhu shares her story. Find out how immigrants are the heartbeat of our American story and are a vital part of our state’s entrepreneurial and cultural community, propelling innovation and helping to define our region’s ...

February 24, 2017Brazilian Carnaval is known for it’s elaborate parades of dancers dressed in feathers and rhinestones, as well as for it’s distinct music sounds. Local Afro-Brazilian music artist, Eduardo Mendonca talks with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama about the social history of the festivities.

February 24, 2017The Obama administration signed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in 2012 to allow undocumented immigrant minors the ability to remain in the US to work or attend school. Recently, the White House announced that they will be issuing a new Executive Order to ban entry by citizens from the same seven Muslim-majority countries again. ...

February 22, 2017February 23rd kicks off the 5th annual Seattle Asian American Film Festival and one of the opening night films is Who Killed Donnie Chin. For years Donnie Chin was a mainstay in Seattle’s International District. On July 23rd 2015, Chin was murdered in Chinatown. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with Matt Chan, the Producer/Director of Who Killed ...

February 22, 2017On January 27th this year, The President issued an executive order that banned travel to the United States for a period of 3 months. The predominantly Muslim countries impacted included Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, and Somalia. Travel from Syria was banned completely with this order. On February 3rd, the 9th US Circuit Court of ...

February 22, 2017Many of us has stayed in hotels and motels while on business or vacation. Natalie Kelley, Organizer with Unite Here Local 8 spoke with a hotel housekeeper who cleans up after our visits, Yen Deng. Deng describes what she faces while on the job.
Union hotel housekeepers are known to have quality and affordable health coverage, ...

February 22, 2017Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt was a strong supporter of fracking and received significant contributions from the oil and gas industry. Last week, the Senate confirmed his appointment as the new EPA director. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with YES! Magazine senior editor, Stephen Miller about this and other stories in the news. To read more, check ...

February 17, 2017The grassroots group Indivisible Seattle is focused on blocking President Trump’s agenda at the Federal level. The group has grown from 2 members to over 2,000 members since January 1st, this year. They target our local Members of Congress and Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. KBCS’s David Griffith reports from one of the group’s ...

February 17, 2017Discover unique and essential conversations about the people who make up our communities. Explore local social issues, navigate your commute, and explore simple ideas that will help you make the world a better place. The KBCS audio ideas archive is just a click away.

February 14, 2017Mass nationwide strikes, in resistance to the current administration, are in the works. One has been declared for this Friday, February 17th. Another is being organized for International Women’s Day, March 8th. YES! Magazine Senior Editor, James Trimarco has been following the discussions on strikes, and shared his perspective on the March 8th mass strike ...

February 14, 2017Love is in the air. And maybe at your bus stop. Our WTFlux team went in search of love stories. They met Troy who met his future wife on the bus. They also met Alper and Amanda who’s shared bus route led to their romance. Robbin Block, Yuko Kodama and Mona Yeh produced this segment, ...

February 13, 2017President Trump’s recent Executive Order, banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US, has sparked public protests and attorneys to file lawsuits around the country. Kerning Cultures producers spoke with protesters and amongst themselves to discuss what can be done in the wake of a Trump presidency.
The full episode, located on Kerning Cultures website, can ...

February 10, 2017On January 31st, the city of Los Angeles legalized street vending in an effort to curb criminal misdemeanor charges for mostly immigrant vendors. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with one of Yes Magazine‘s senior editors, James Trimarco on the phone about how street vending legalization creates a more comprehensive approach to Los Angeles’ sanctuary city commitment.
“Guitars ...

February 10, 2017It’s been two weeks since President Trump signed an Executive Order banning immigration into the US from seven Muslim-majority countries. Kerning Cultures, a podcast highlighting the narratives from the Middle East, shared a segment with KBCS on the impacts of the travel ban on people from these countries. This Syrian-Canadian man, who is now hesitant ...

February 10, 2017Recently, Dr. Angela Davis spoke at a Seattle town hall forum, commemorating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as part of the City of Seattle’s third annual Martin Luther King Unity Day celebration. This five-part series includes excerpts of her talk.
Part 1 – Dr. Davis shares how the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday came ...

February 8, 2017The full Seattle City Council voted unanimously on February 7, 2017 to divest 3 billion dollars of their business from Wells Fargo Bank, a creditor for the Dakota Access Pipeline project in North Dakota. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama recently spoke with one of Yes Magazine’s senior editors, James Trimarco on the phone about their coverage of ...

February 8, 2017In a surprise victory last week, a Washington state jury refused to convict Ken Ward, the first of five so-called “valve turners” who shut off tar sands pipelines from Canada to Washington in October of last year. Ken Ward, who turned off an emergency block valve on Kinder Morgan’s Trans-Mountain Pipeline, was charged with two ...

February 3, 2017Homelessness is probably not the first image that comes to mind when you think about the vigorous economy of the Eastside. We highlight voices from the largely unseen homeless population of Bellevue and Kirkland. This 5 part series was originally broadcast in October 2015.
Episode 1 – Congregations for the Homeless Bellevue Executive Director, David Johns Bowling ...

February 2, 2017The news continues to buzz with the impact of the recent Presidential executive order banning nationals from seven Muslim majority countries from entering the United States. KBCS producer and Bellevue high school student, Reyan Haji interviewed several of his friends about their experiences growing up as American Muslim youth. Find out how they’re impacted by ...

January 31, 2017Last Tuesday, President Trump ordered construction of the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines to move forward. In Seattle’s Westlake Park, local tribes and activists gathered to voice their opposition. Listen to what they had to say.
“The Dakota Access Pipeline (under construction)” by Lars Plougmann is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

January 30, 2017President Trump’s recent executive order, which restricts immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries, was met with widespread protest and confusion over the weekend. People who had just arrived in the U.S. were held at airports, and some were sent back out of the country, as Customs and Border Protection, activists, lawyers, and elected officials struggled to ...

January 27, 2017President Trump’s plans to deport millions of undocumented immigrants has people bracing for an increase in immigration raids. Naomi Ishisaka of One America interviewed Elena, a woman who was apprehended in the 2009 Yamato Engine Specialists plant in Bellingham, Washington in 2009, but was later released for medical reasons. Listen to her experience of being ...

January 26, 2017In this news feature, Martha Baskin looks at Trump’s choice for interior secretary from the point of view of owls. The 116th Congress has its hands full vetting cabinet nominations. Many are controversial, but one that’s flying under the radar is Ryan Zinke, a freshman Republican Congressman from Montana, who will manage over 200 million ...

January 24, 2017Listen in to some stories from a couple of protesters in Washington DC over the weekend. One interview is from an active member of Black Bloc. Black Bloc is a group anarchists known for dressing in black and destroying property in order to make a statement against capitalism and authority. This group was active on the day ...

January 24, 2017Roughly half a million people took to the streets on Saturday, January 21st in protest of women’s issues. Listen in to Democracy Now!’s special coverage of the post inauguration Women’s March on Washington event.

January 23, 2017City of Seattle departments joined with local service providers on Friday, January 20th 2017 to present Seattle United For Immigrant And Refugee Families at Seattle Center’s McCaw Hall. The daylong program brought together 750 volunteers and well over 100 community members to discuss the path to citizenship and protection of individual rights. Listen in on some ...

January 23, 2017Between 150,000 and 175,000 people took part in Saturday’s Women’s March on Seattle. Listen in on some sounds from the event and hear what people had to say.
A large crowd of peaceful protesters
Filling the streets
A look at a march puppet in action

January 20, 2017Saturday’s Women’s March on Seattle is expected to be the third largest in the country. With tens of thousands of people marching, expect to see posters, flags, and even… puppets. Find out what goes into making these puppets and what they represent.
A look at what goes into making a march puppet.
Hard at work.

January 20, 2017A buzz among the local parent crowd leading up to this weekend’s women’s marches is whether or not to take kids to the event. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with the co-authors of the blogpost “Activist Mama’s Guide to taking kids to a march” for some advice on how to prepare to go with children in ...

January 19, 2017A movement to outfit this weekend’s marchers with pussyhats – knitted pink hats sporting cat ears, is taking local and national yarn stores by storm. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama visits a local eastside yarn store for details.
The knitted pussyhat pattern is here. You can find crochet and sewings patterns for pussyhats on the pussyhat website.
Debbie Frable with ...

January 18, 2017There are over 75,000 legal permanent residents in the Seattle King County area, and many residents whose legal status could be in question. The city of Seattle is a Sanctuary City. KBCS Producer Jim Cantu spoke with Seattle City Council member Lorena Gonzalez about what that means.

January 17, 2017Thousands of people marched through Seattle on Monday, January 16th, 2017, to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. KBCS’s Gol Hoghooghi was there and spoke with people about what inspired them to march.

January 12, 2017KBCS’s Carol Handley speaks with bassist and Chapman Stick player Tony Levin about some of his key relationships throughout his career musical career. Tony is best known for his work with Peter Gabriel, who he has been with since his first album was released in 1977. He has also been a member of the band ...

January 10, 2017Funds can be a bit tight for many of us after the holidays, but what about our local homeless families and individuals? How can they secure housing in a city with such high costs? KBCS’s Jim Cantu spoke with Sharon Lee, Executive Director of Seattle’s Low Income Housing Institute, to find out what’s being done ...

January 9, 201712,000 people in Washington state live with the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis or MS. MS is a chronic, unpredictable neurological disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It’s an elusive disease with no known cause or cure. This series highlights living with, treating, and caring for those with MS.
Episode 1 – Swedish Hospital Neurologist ...

January 5, 2017Continuing our coverage of the 2016 Electoral College, we’ll take a look at the experiences of individual electors. KBCS’s Yuko Kodama spoke with three Washington electors who shared what it was like to vote in the Electoral College on December 19th.

January 5, 2017The Electoral College met last month and formally cast their votes for the president of the United States. Washington State elector, Brett Chiafalo, co-founded the Hamilton Electors, a movement aimed to block president elect Donald Trump’s presidency by encouraging electors to vote for a Republican alternate for President.
Here’s KBCS’s Yuko Kodama speaking with Chiafalo and ...

January 3, 2017In the wake of this year’s election, KBCS features a rare look at how your vote is counted. Jim Cantu of KBCS News reports from the King County Elections headquarters. In the first part, King County Elections Director Julie Wise describes how election ballots are processed. In the second part, KBCS News and Public Affairs ...

December 23, 2016Seattle’s music scene is vibrant and thriving. In 2015, Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata was a co-sponsor of the Fair Trade Music day resolution. The former City Councilmember discusses the Fair Trade Music Seattle campaign from a public policy perspective. This segment originally aired in 2015.

December 15, 2016Ride along on bus 48 through Seattle’s Central District. It’s a historically black community that Carla Saulter and Gabriel Teodros know well. They identify some of the symptoms that mark the gentrification of the neighborhood.
The piece produced by KBCS’s Mona Yeh and Yuko Kodama, is part of Unmute the Commute, our series on stories from ...

December 7, 2016Bret Chiafalo is an Elector from Washington state’s second congressional district. He has co-founded the Hamilton Electors, a movement intended to block a Trump Presidency through the US electoral college. KBCS Producer and Washington State Elector, Esther Little Dove John, spoke with Chiafalo in the KBCS studio recently. He begins the segment by explaining how the ...

December 6, 2016Last week, President Elect Donald Trump tweeted that people who burn flags should lose their citizenship or go to jail. We explore the history of flag burning and 1st amendment rights.
University of Washington Professor of History, Bill Rorabaugh, shares a little history of flag burning with KBCS Producer, Angie Voyles Askham.

December 5, 2016The Protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline ended in triumph over the weekend. We now turn to a personal story from Matika Wilbur, a northwest tribal member who was called to Standing Rock by the Sioux nation just a few months ago. KBCS Reporter Esther Dove John has more.
photo courtesy of Leslie Peterson

December 1, 201661 years ago on December 1st, Rosa Parks, a black seamstress was arrested in Montgomery Alabama for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a city bus. The incident sparked a year-long boycott of the buses by blacks, leading to the end of segregated buses in the south. Next, we hear ...

November 30, 2016The electoral college is under scrutiny this election year, as they have the final say of who will be President of the United States. The state electors cast their votes on December 19th. Washington state elector, Esther Little Dove John shares another moment in US history when the controversy around an election brought about devastating ...

November 11, 2016The Korean War, often referred to as the Forgotten War, has a significant place in history. It marked the first time in modern America that many black soldiers fought alongside their white counterparts. In 1950 the military was segregated which changed by the end of the war. Local retired captain Clifford Donnelly talks about his ...

November 11, 2016Since the results of Tuesday’s election, thousands took to the streets across the country. In Seattle, protesters walked from downtown Seattle to the University of Washington campus. KBCS Producer Casey Martin captured some perspectives from Wednesday night’s gatherings.
photos: courtesy of Casey Martin

November 10, 2016Here’s a sampling of post-election thoughts and emotions from yesterday. KBCS News Director, Yuko Kodama takes you out onto the campus of Bellevue College to hear from students, and staff.

November 9, 2016This month is World Vegan month. According to a Vegetarian Times study, approximately 10 percent of U.S. adults say they largely follow a vegetarian-inclined diet now. A vegan lifestyle means not consuming any animal products at all. This means no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, or any by-products of these ingredients.
KBCS Producer Ruth Bly spoke with ...

November 8, 2016Investigative reporter, Greg Palast’s film The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, uncovers the many methods used to suppress votes across the United States. KBCS News Director Yuko Kodama spoke with Palast.
Click here to watch the film, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy for free through election night and get a free comic book.

November 4, 2016The author of The Green Collar Economy, CNN Crossfire Commentator, and former special advisor to the Obama administration on green jobs, Van Jones discusses environmental policy and social equity in Washington State with KBCS’s Yuko Kodama.

November 3, 2016November 5th 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the Everett Massacre, known as the bloodiest event in Washington labor history. As many as a dozen from a local historical labor organization, Industrial Workers of the World (the I.W.W.) may have lost their lives, as they faced off with squads hired by businesses and commercial interests ...

November 2, 2016When we think about voting this season – consider the work that some put in to ensure more have a seat at the table of democracy. The Asian Counseling Referral Services’ Civic Engagement Program Manager, Monica Ng shares her experience with advocating for Asian Pacific Islanders in our region to vote. She was interviewed by ...

November 1, 2016Despite Washington’s progressive access to voting, we have some of the country’s worst levels of equal representation in local government–meaning the racial demographics of elected officials are disproportionate to the racial and cultural makeup of our communities. Amplify is a movement-building organization that seeks out people with a progressive vision and helps them run for office. They ...

October 31, 2016Bastyr University Professor and Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Brad Lichtenstein has worked with patients facing terminal illness for decades. He shares his take on how we die. He begins with a short guided meditation on your last moments alive.

October 27, 2016Homelessness may not be one of the first things that come to mind when you think of the booming cities and suburbs east of Lake Washington. But shelters on the Eastside estimate they’ll serve well over twenty five hundred people this coming year. Congregations for the Homeless Executive Director David Bowling describes how being homeless on ...

October 27, 2016You can return your voting ballot at 24-hour drop box locations in King County and Pierce County and Kitsap County. A postage stamp is not required if you drop off your ballot at these locations.

October 21, 2016Birds exist everywhere we do, so it’s little wonder that they have been important to human culture from time immemorial. Their songs thrill along with their incredible display of speed and strength. Audubon has been dedicated to ensuring their survival since it was founded in 1905. From its work in stopping the sale of feathers ...

October 20, 2016In late September, City Council staff admitted Seattle’s electric utility had failed to meet revenue projections for the past four years. Despite a significant population increase, residential energy use dropped. City Light believes a large portion of the shortfall is due to conservation and a switch to more efficient energy devices. Reporter David Griffith spoke ...

October 20, 2016If you live in western Washington, chances are you get your power or your natural gas or both from Puget Sound Energy. The state’s largest utility company serves more than a million customers in 10 counties. But it’s not just energy that PSE trades in. The company also helps power campaigns and elections in Washington ...

October 19, 2016The Social Justice Film Festival has started, and features 52 films this year. The Film Festival dives into topics ranging from workers’ rights to environmental issues. KBCS News Director Yuko Kodama spoke with Rhenda Meiser, Communications Director for the Social Justice Film Festival, and with two local filmmakers, Christy X whose short, Local Treasure screens on October 24th, and ...

October 18, 2016Representative Tana Senn is running to keep her seat in the State House, representing Washington’s 41st district. Listen to her take on some big issues—like funding schools, climate change, and minimum wage. Her challenger John Pass never responded to our requests for an interview.

October 18, 2016Representative Joan McBride talks about transit, state-wide minimum wage and how to fund public schools. She’s running to keep her position representing the 48th Legislative District in the State House of Representatives. Her opponent, Republican candidate Benjamin Judah Phelps never responded to our requests for an interview.

October 17, 2016Deputy Mayor Ramiro Valderrama is challenging State Representative Roger Goodman for his position in the 45th district.
Here’s KBCS News director Yuko Kodama with the coverage. The KBCS 2016 Election Series was produced by Jennie Cecil Moore and Angie Voyles Askham.

October 17, 2016Supporters of Washington Ballot Initiative 735 are looking to overturn Citizens United— the 2010 Supreme Court decision that prohibited the government from restricting campaign contributions from corporations, under the ruling that those contributions are free speech.
The ballot initiative itself pushes for the Washington state congressional delegation to propose a federal constitutional amendment that would say ...

October 17, 2016Erin Jones and State Representative Chris Reykdal are running for the job of Superintendent of Public Instruction, a position that oversees the state’s K-12 education. This office provides funding and resources for public schools, administers basic education programs, and implements education reform.
KBCS News Director Yuko Kodama has more. The KBCS 2016 Election Series was produced ...

October 14, 2016We continue our coverage of the 2016 local elections with segments of interviews with State Senator Bob Hasegawa and Dennis Price, who are running for State Senate, 11th District. Here’s KBCS News Director, Yuko Kodama. This series was produced by Jennie Cecil Moore and Angie Voyles Askham.

October 14, 2016Next on our 2016 Election Series: candidates for the state House of Representatives, Judy Clibborn and Michael Appleby, share their viewpoints on key issues. Here’s KBCS News director Yuko Kodama. This series was produced by Jennie Cecil Moore and Angie Voyles Askham.

October 13, 2016Next in our 2016 Election Series: Governor Jay Inslee is being challenged for his position this year by Republican candidate Bill Bryant, who previously served as Seattle Port Commissioner.
KBCS News Director Yuko Kodama has the coverage. This series was produced by Jennie Cecil Moore and Angie Voyles Askham.

October 13, 2016Today in the KBCS 2016 Election Series– the race to represent the 37th legislative district, first position, in the State House. Democrat Sharon Tomiko Santos currently holds that position since being elected in 1998. This year, she’s being challenged for her position by non-partisan candidate John Dickinson.
The 37th district extends along the southwestern border of Lake Washington, ...

October 13, 2016Washington State Initiative Measure 732 would establish a state-wide tax on carbon emissions to fight climate change. Revenue raised from that tax would then pay for a reduced state sales tax, a rebate for low-income working households, and the effective elimination of a manufacturing tax.
The initiative was brought about by the group Carbon Washington. There ...

October 12, 2016Democrat Eric Pettigrew currently represents the 37th district in the State House of Representatives, in the second position. Representative Pettigrew was first elected to the position in 2002. He’s being challenged by non-partisan candidate Tamra Smilanich.
The 37th district extends along the southwestern border of Lake Washington, including Beacon Hill, Columbia City, Rainier Beach, and Renton.
KBCS ...

October 12, 2016Republican State Senator Steve Litzow has represented the 41st legislative district for the past six years. He is being challenged this year by Democrat Lisa Wellman.
The 41st legislative district covers Mercer Island, and stretches east to Bellevue, Newcastle, and the south-east border of Lake Sammamish.
KBCS interviewed both candidates about their position on some key issues ...

October 11, 2016Incumbent Zack Hudgins has represented the 11th district, first position, in the State House of Representatives since 2002. He is being challenged this year by Republican Erin Smith Aboudara. The 11th legislative district includes much of south Seattle, Tukwila, Renton, and Kent.
KBCS News director Yuko Kodama has the coverage. Producers are Angie Voyles Askham and ...

October 11, 2016Libertarian candidate Michelle Darnell and Democratic incumbent Patty Kuderer are running to represent the 48th legislative district, first position, in the State House of Representatives. Kuderer was appointed to the position last year after the resignation of Representative Ross Hunter.
The 48th district covers a portion of the Eastside, including Bellevue, Redmond, and Kirkland.
KBCS News director ...

October 10, 2016Washington State Senator Pramila Jayapal and State Representative Brady Piñero Walkinshaw are running to represent our state’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The 7th district includes most of Seattle, and extends north to Shoreline and Edmonds, and south to Burien, Normandy Park, and Vashon Island. Both candidates are running on the Democratic ...

October 10, 2016Doug Basler is challenging incumbent Adam Smith to represent Washington’s 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smith has held this position since 1997.
The 9th Congressional District includes Bellevue, Mercer Island, much of South Seattle, Renton, and extends to Tacoma. After the redistricting of 2010, it became the state’s first majority minority district.
KBCS ...

October 10, 2016Democracy Now!’s features “Expanding the Debate” 2016 U.S. presidential debate coverage with a feed from the October 9th presidential debate.
On Sunday, October 9, 2016, Democracy Now! offered 3.5 hour coverage from the U.S. presidential debate in St. Louis, MO.
On Monday, October 10, 2016, Democracy Now! offered a special extra hour, expanding the debate to include candidates that were ...

October 7, 2016KBCS brings you local elections coverage: unique and essential conversations about Washington ballot measures, and interviews with local candidates. Tune in to 91.3 starting at 7am Monday, and visit our Elections 2016 page to find audio and extra content.

October 5, 2016A startup company from North Idaho captivated donors and YouTube viewers worldwide a few years ago with its idea for turning roads and parking lots into solar farms. Now that far-out idea is available for public inspection for the first time. Go to Sandpoint, Idaho, and you can walk or ride across heavy-duty solar panels ...

September 28, 2016We celebrate our Latino community with the following series.
Episode 1 & 2: Interview with Activist and Co-founder of El Centro de la Raza, Estela Ortega speaks about the local power of our Latino community
Episode 3: Ese Teatro’s Founding Member and Artistic Director, Rose Cano speaks about what inspires her work in producing bilingual plays.
Episode 4 & ...

September 27, 2016The Washington State Department of Ecology says the fastest erosion on the West Coast is happening at aptly named Washaway Beach. That’s located between the southwest Washington towns of Grayland and Tokeland. Coastal erosion threatens not just homes and a vital highway, but now the multi-million dollar cranberry industry too.
Most places threatened by erosion try ...

September 23, 2016Yesterday was the Autumnal Equinox, the official first day of fall, and the end of summer. Seattle residents bid farewell to the warm weather and sunny days Wednesday with an annual light parade around Green Lake. KBCS’ Casey Martin was at the event.
As the last rays of sun set over Seattle’s Green Lake, glowing lights start ...

September 16, 2016Gaze across the mountains of the Northwest these days and you may notice an unusual number of dead firs, pines and other conifer trees scattered among the green ones. Drought is usually considered the prime culprit. But recent research suggests the damage that has historically been done to conifer forests by routine dry spells is ...

September 16, 2016Polls are showing that Oregon voters aren’t rallying around either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. While Clinton is expected to win the state, her campaign is struggling to attract Democrats who voted for Bernie Sanders in the May primary. But as Salem Correspondent Chris Lehman explains, Clinton and Trump aren’t the only presidential candidates on ...

September 12, 2016When Washington state wildlife officials announced they would eliminate the Profanity Peak wolf pack last month, they were operating under a new management plan. The plan came about after months of deliberation with various stakeholders ranging from livestock producers to conservation groups. But there were some parties left out of the discussion. Correspondent Emily Schwing ...

August 30, 2016The platform and policies of Democratic presidential candidate Hilary Clinton and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump are all over the news as we get closer to November, leaving candidates from other national parties with little or no air time.
Some 3rd party candidates like the Green Party’s Dr. Jill Stein and Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson ...

August 30, 2016After two years of some of the worst fires and smoke the Northwest has ever seen, Washington’s Methow Valley is catching its breath. Dozens of businesses didn’t make it through. And as correspondent Anna King reports, the fires still throw a long shadow.
Left: Kathleen Jardin owns Methow Valley’s Central Reservations and an art gallery. She ...

August 29, 2016It takes only a moment to sign a major bill into law. It will take years to implement the new education policy outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which President Obama signed last December. The ESSA requires states to develop their own rules, and Oregon educators are looking forward to the possible impacts.

August 26, 2016King Estate winery will officially be certified biodynamic this year. This is the latest in a long line of environmentally sound practices at wineries across Oregon.
KLCC’s Kira Hoffelmeyer takes a look at whether these efforts matter to wine drinkers and others in the industry.

August 25, 2016A new federally funded pilot program, “Fresh Bucks Rx,” allows medical providers to write a prescription for fruits and vegetables from farmers markets. The pilot was launched by the City of Seattle, Harborview Medical Center, and Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic along with Seattle and King County farmers markets, and aims to improve health outcomes for ...

August 25, 2016According to the Washington State Farmers Market Alliance and Washington State University, 115 farmers markets in our region collectively bring in 44 million dollars. In our last farmers market segment, Development Manager Patrice Barrentine discusses how participating in these markets is an act of community building and social justice.

August 24, 2016In part three of our farmers market series, we look at the increase in small scale farms and some of the challenges they face. Smaller farms without the resources to butcher their meat or wash their eggs currently have to transport much of their produce and livestock to other counties or states in order to ...

August 23, 2016In southeast Washington, the Range 12 wildfire is good and out. But now there’s 176,600 acres of black. Much of the valuable habitat on the Hanford Reach National Monument has been roasted. Correspondent Anna King took this journey — into the black.
Left: In southeast Washington, the Range 12 wildfire burned 176-thousand acres. Much of ...

August 23, 2016Next in our series on farmers markets, we take a look at how our region’s farmers experience the effects of climate change. King County Agriculture Policy and Economic Development Manager, Patrice Barrentine, shares how climate change is altering our local food sources.

August 22, 2016This week we’re highlighting local farmers markets! In our first segment, we take a look at small farms.
King County boasts 40 of the 170 state-wide farmers’ markets. Patrice Barrentine, King County Agriculture Policy and Economic Development Manager, shares what it takes to run a small farm growing food for the market today.

August 11, 2016Delays, dead air and garbled transmissions have bedeviled a new Washington State Patrol radio system. Now the state auditor’s office is questioning the patrol’s no-bid contract with Motorola to build the system and the lack of an engineering study beforehand. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins has the latest:

August 10, 2016Perhaps on a trip back East or to the American South, you’ve visited a Civil War battlefield or two. These national parks and pilgrimage sites receive hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
During the decade before the U.S. Civil War, a different conflict made a big impact on the Oregon Territory’s future. It’s known as the ...

August 10, 2016Last week, the Washington State chapter of the ACLU filed a lawsuit challenging the city of Pasco’s at-large election system for violating the Voting Rights Act. The ACLU alleges the city has been unlawfully diluting the vote of Latinos in elections, preventing any Latino candidates from winning City Council seats.
This lack of minority representation is, ...

August 8, 2016National parks will offer free admission on the final weekend of this month (Aug. 25-28) in honor of the 100th birthday of the National Park Service. Before then, the park service centennial is being celebrated with music.
Southern Oregon’s Britt Orchestra and the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra are among more than a dozen arts organizations to commission ...

August 5, 2016Two miles of Seattle’s downtown warehouse district are getting a new look!
Artists from around the world and the Seattle area have been commissioned to paint vibrant murals along the SoDo Track–the transit corridor between 4th and 6th avenues only accessible to Light Rail and Metro buses.
You can find a map of the SoDo Track murals here. An Opening ...

August 5, 2016The U.S. Olympic team includes more than 75 athletes from the northwest. One of them is Minnesota transplant Ben Blankenship, who be will be competing in the men’s 15-hundred meter race later this month. He’s excited about Rio, and has been preparing by training in some uniquely northwest locations.

August 4, 2016What happens at a bus stop throughout the day? In this special edition of What’s the Flux: Commuter dispatches, lead Producer, Mona Yeh and Producer, Yuko Kodama sent reporters out to visit some of our region’s busiest bus stops over a 24 hour period. You’ll listen to the rhythm at popular transit centers in our ...

August 2, 2016Organic blueberries are really hard to grow west of the Cascades — too many bugs and too much disease. But east of the mountains, they’re battling the desert. Correspondent Anna King visited a farm in Patterson to find out how blueberries could possibly grow in this environment, and came back with the answer: giant tents.
Left: Flora Mendoza ...

August 2, 2016Backers of an initiative aimed at amplifying small donations to politicians are waiting to hear if they’ve qualified for the November ballot. Initiative 1464 would give Washingtonians three 50-dollar “democracy vouchers” to donate to the politicians of their choice for each election.
The measure has support from groups that span the political spectrum, who say that ...

July 29, 2016We do not live in a color blind society. Racism is a very real issue. So why is it so hard for white people to talk about racism? Dr. Robin DiAngelo asks and provides answers to this question. She is a consultant and trainer on issues of racial and social justice. Robin received her PhD from ...

July 27, 2016Even though Oregon voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2014, you can’t legally buy the stuff in more than 100 Oregon communities. That’s because some city and county governments have banned recreational marijuana businesses. But voters in nearly half of those places will have the chance to overturn the bans this November. Correspondent Chris Lehman explains.
Left: ...

July 26, 2016Washington, Oregon and California have lofty goals for increasing the number of non-polluting vehicles on the road. To achieve those goals, you and your neighbors will need to buy electric cars at a higher rate than we’re seeing now.
That fact was on the minds of many at an electric vehicle conference in Portland last week, ...

July 25, 2016Chef Tarik Abdullah thinks all communities should have access to healthy food. That means better grocery stores, fresh fruits and vegetables, and knowledge of how to cook them up into something delicious.
Sonya Green spoke with Chef Tarik about his goals of bringing quality food to Hillman City and other neighborhoods of color, and why getting ...

July 22, 2016Washington voters have a political homework assignment this summer–and it’s due August 2nd. It’s all of the candidates to sift through for the primary election. Here’s what you need to know-

July 22, 2016We invited the community to a Party on Wheels. Parents, kids, senior citizens and the like all enjoyed talking about their bus experiences. Correspondent Nathan Miller has the dispatch.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatches.

July 21, 2016The recent viral photo of Ieshia Evans standing in peaceful protest as she is arrested by police in riot gear is reminiscent of photos from the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s. The struggle for equality and respect continues in this era with the Black Lives Matter Movement. The Seattle Art Museum is hosting an exhibit ...

July 11, 2016On Thursday a vigil was held in Seattle to honor police shooting victims Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. The gathering of over a thousand people was led by the family of Che Taylor who was killed by Seattle police in February. As the vigil turned to protest, Casey Martin was there to talk with demonstrators.

June 27, 2016Listeners to 91.3 KBCS will notice some changes when they tune in on weekdays starting July 1.
Weekday listeners will enjoy progressive ideas throughout the morning, and an eclectic blend of music from noon through the evening.
The Thom Hartmann Program returns to live broadcast, allowing listeners to call in and participate.
Iaan Hughes is followed by veteran ...

June 17, 2016
An Interfaith Vigil was held in Bellevue after the Orlando Massacre. Last month, KBCS reporter Casey Martin looked into the impact of this event and other hate crimes on our local Muslim and gay communities. The shooting took place during the Observance of Ramadan and Pride Month.
photo by torbakhopper

June 9, 2016Taking the bus is no laughing matter for senior citizen couple, Sashi and Ravi. They live in Bellevue and rely heavily on public transportation to connect with their community through the Indian Association of Western Washington. It’s how they get to laughing chair yoga and share precious laughs with other senior citizens. Here’s the ...

June 2, 2016Seattle is not the only place where housing affordability is a concern. On the eastside, housing prices forced high school student, Coen Lavar’s family to relocate to Renton. For Coen, this meant a longer commute to his school in Sammamish. Much longer. Mona Yeh has his dispatch.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatches.

May 26, 2016Housing affordability is an ongoing issue in Seattle. For bike and bus commuter, Gia Mugford, housing prices are one part of the equation. For Gia congestion, parking availability and constant crowds on Capitol Hill were other factors that led her to make a move. Gia left Seattle and moved to Tacoma where she’s happy with ...

May 12, 2016Our WTFlux team learned at our April event that when you “unmute the commute”, you can learn a lot. From having conversations to strangers to people watching that inspires art, there are many life lessons that can be learned.
In this excerpt from the event, you hear Seattle bus chick, Carla Saulter, artist, Lynn DiNino ...

May 5, 2016In April, the What’s the Flux team held a listening party in Seattle. It featured many voices including sisters Dr. Georgia McDade and Mary Stewart. They both gave a description of the America they live in.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatch stories.

April 28, 2016We introduced you to Dorian Taylor, a wheelchair user and regular bus-rider who’s experienced challenges with nearly every single ride. Dorian wants to change transit policy to better address the needs of the wheelchair user community.
After their story aired, King County Metro contacted Dorian to hold a meeting with their ADA Compliance Officer. The What’s ...

April 21, 2016We continue our exploration of issues around access and mobility for people in the DeafBlind community with Chris Loomis. Producer, Mona Yeh and correspondent Yuko Kodama spent time at The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. in Seattle to learn more. Here’s the dispatch.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatch stories.

April 14, 2016Daily commuting activities such as crossing the street, boarding a bus, and knowing where to get off – become part of a completely different world for those in the deaf-blind community. Seattle has perhaps one of the largest and most active DeafBlind communities in the country. Producer, Mona Yeh and correspondent, Yuko Kodama spent time ...

April 12, 2016Emily Campbell enjoys her bike to bus commute just the way it is. Driving a car is not an option she likes or thinks about. In fact, Emily says even if she won the lottery, she’d buy a car but still take the bus. Correspondent Whitney Henry Lester rode along with Emily and brings you ...

April 1, 2016Join us for an evening of stories and community around a central shared experience: riding the bus. What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatches is a series through 91.3 KBCS that captures first-hand accounts of this community through the lens of people who commute using the bus. This interactive event will feature both audio and live stories, ...

March 31, 2016Waking up before the sun rises and driving a big machine are two things Janice Rapier likes to do. After 30 years of perfecting this routine as a part-time transit operator for King County Metro Transit, Janice appreciates the perks of driving a bus. And she especially likes the fact that it’s one profession where ...

March 24, 2016When Dorian has a smooth bus ride, it’s an experience to cherish. What’s the Flux producer, Mona Yeh, took a ride with Dorian to get a first-hand account of their experience. Here’s the dispatch.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatch stories.

March 11, 2016African American artist, Kehinde Wiley, captivates audiences with his work. He’s a seasoned artist but many are meeting him for the first time through his exhibit, A New Republic, on display at the Seattle Art Museum. The Seattle Art Museum was intentional in choosing to open Wiley’s exhibit during Black History Month. They were also intentional ...

March 4, 2016What does it mean to mixed race? It’s a term recognized but rarely considered in conversations about race and racial identity. However, it should be since according to reports, multiracial individuals are the fastest growing youth group. Seattle-based author and activist, Sharon H. Chang debuts her first book Raising Mixed Race: Multiracial Asian Children In ...

March 3, 2016The bus is a means to a better life for Al Brown. Brown is homeless but not hopeless. He has been homeless for years but that has not determined his outlook on life. Brown is a college student who depends on the bus to move him towards a better future. Whitney Henry-Lester brings us Al’s ...

March 2, 2016A campaign got route 48 for the Central District and continued advocacy keeps the bus route in business. The Transit Riders Union is very active in ensuring transit justice for all. Yuko Kodama spoke with Transit Riders union General Secretary and Organizer, Katie Wilson.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatches stories.

February 26, 2016One of Seattle’s biggest Black History Month celebrations happens at EMP Museum called, “Through the Eyes of Art”. The creator of the annual event, Seattle rapper, Draze, stopped by the KBCS studios with more details about this year’s theme of Black Love. It includes an exhibit featuring local black artists, a relationship panel and the ...

February 25, 2016What many in Seattle know as bus route 48 didn’t always exist. Thanks to the hard work of community organizers and advocates in 1966, Seattle’s Central Area got much needed north-south transportation. Among the leaders who worked on the Crosstown Bus Campaign was Maid Adams of Seattle Congress of Racial Equality or CORE. Adams reflected ...

February 23, 2016In 1966, the U.S. Congress passed legislation to initiate the Model Cities Program. The program was developed to address social and economic disadvantages among other things. In 1971, Seattle became a Model City. One of the programs funded was the Mini-Tran Project, a neighborhood bus system that served Seattle’s Central District residential neighborhoods. The bus ...

February 21, 2016Today we unmute the commute with Mariam Bayo. Mariam Bayo was one of 50 students who received an ORCA card in the fall. But Bayo didn’t stop fighting for other students to have ORCA cards. Mariam is a testament to what can happen when students are giving all of the necessary resources they need to succeed. Correspondent Yuko ...

February 19, 2016Dr. Terrence Roberts was one of the Little Rock Nine. The first group of African American students to desegregate Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Dr. Roberts spoke at Bellevue City Hall in January.

February 18, 2016Seattle implemented a desegregation busing plan in 1978. The program lasted over two decades. Opinions on the success of busing varies. WTFlux spoke with Dr. Norwood Brooks, one of Washington state’s first elected black officials. We also spoke with Winona Hollins-Hauge, who was among the first to be a participate in the busing program. They ...

February 16, 2016We explore buses and transportation as centers of movement-building and activism. Segregated bus systems were deemed unconstitutional in 1961, only after very persistent efforts by hundreds of freedom fighters who put their life on the line as they demanded for desegregated bus facilities. South Seattle resident and educator, Georgia McDade, grew up in Munroe, Louisiana. ...

February 15, 2016In 1965, Seattle soul station KYAC went on the air. At the time it was owned by a white man but that would change. Don Dudley eventually took ownership of the station, becoming the first African American to own a radio station in Seattle. Former KYAC radio announcer and now Seattle Theatre Group, Marketing and Communications Director, ...

February 14, 2016Love is in the air. And maybe at your bus stop. Our WTFlux team went in search of love stories. They met Troy who met his future wife on the bus. They also met Alper and Amanda who’s shared bus route led to their romance. Robbin Block, Yuko Kodama and Mona Yeh produced this segment.
Troy ...

February 4, 2016Seattle city council members made a unanimous decision to pass the Orca card passport program for low-income students on Wednesday. The pilot program offered 50 cards to students. The approved plan will allow more Orca cards to be distributed to high school and middle school students on free and reduced lunch and who live beyond ...

January 28, 2016We unmute the commute with Holly Eckert. Holly gives her dispatch to Mona Yeh. She also writes about it for the Seattle Times Opinion page.
Eckert’s life was dramatically and forever changed at 34 years of age when she learned she had epilepsy. Her first seizure caused a car accident. It was after this, she decided ...

January 28, 2016Allowing transgender people access to the restroom or locker room of their choice stirs strong feelings. Advocates on both sides of that debate packed a hearing room in Olympia Wednesday. They testified on a Republican proposal to repeal a new state rule. That rule leaves the choice with the user and not the owner of ...

January 28, 2016Homelessness is probably not the first image that comes to mind when you think about the vigorous economy of the Eastside. We highlight voices from the largely unseen homeless population of Bellevue and Kirkland.
Episode 1 – Congregations for the Homeless Bellevue Executive Director, David Johns Bowling
Episode 2 & 3 – Lake Washington United Methodist Church ...

January 27, 2016By Austin Jenkins
On Monday, Washington state’s Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen removed Republican Senator Pam Roach from the human trafficking task force. He took the action after receiving several complaints about the senator’s conduct at a December meeting of the task force.

January 26, 2016People-watching and gazing out the window are common ways to pass time on the bus. Tacoma artist Lynn Di Nino took this to the next level by creating an art exhibit inspired by her 35 mile long Tacoma-Seattle commute consisting of 3-dimensional portraits of bus riders sitting next to photographs, which are real window scenes ...

January 26, 2016By Tom Banse
Parents with kids soon heading to a state college or university have reason to pay attention to the legislature this coming month. College affordability is the common purpose, but Washington state and Idaho lawmakers have different ideas for how to get there.
Idaho Governor Butch Otter proposes a “tuition lock”… that is to ...

January 25, 2016By Tom Banse
A fashion faux pas could be the worst consequence if you wear the wrong color for the season. But a new scientific paper finds much higher stakes when it comes to mismatched coat colors in the animal world. Researchers are studying snowshoe hares in the Northwest against the backdrop of climate change.
Professor L. Scott ...

January 21, 2016Activist and Bus Chick blogger, Carla Saulter made a choice many years ago to live without a car. It’s a choice she’s happy about. It’s a choice she wishes more people could make.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatches stories.

January 19, 2016We unmute the commute with activist and Bus chick blogger, Carla Saulter. Saulter has been living car free since 2003 along with her husband and two children. Carla’s bus chick blog chronicles the ups and downs of public transit. Correspondent Yuko Kodama rode along with Carla, here’s her dispatch.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter ...

January 15, 2016What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatches is a series of stories from our region’s heaviest transit mode, the bus. Senior Producer for the project, Mona Yeh is joined Sonya Green in the KBCS studios to discuss more about the project. She was joined by Mary Jo Porter, partner of the Underhill Company. For the past 40 years, ...

January 14, 2016Words are weapons. And no one knew how to use words as weapons better than author, poet and journalist, John Ross. Ross toured the world and challenged students and thought leaders to be rebel reporters. What is a rebel reporter? Ross is no longer alive to explain the concept. But his words live on in ...

January 12, 2016WTFlux is on a journey to tell your stories about the joys and struggles of public transportation. Here’s what we’ve learned so far.
Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatches stories.

January 7, 2016What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatches explores the commute through the eyes of bus riders. How would you describe your commute? So far we’ve heard boring, frustrating and long to name a few. Does that sound familiar? Share your commute story with us.
Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @kbcs #wtflux #findingamerica.
Text WTFlux at 206-693-4840 to ...

December 29, 2015Our What’s the Flux? team has been talking to commuters around town. Here’s how some Bellevue College students described their commute to our own, David Joseph.
How would you describe your commute? We want to hear from you too! Text or Instagram: @kbcs #wtflux #findingamerica. Text to take a brief survey: Text ‘WTFlux” to 206-693-4840. Email: ...

December 2, 2015King County’s population is rapidly changing and moving, which means more people are traveling longer distances on their daily commutes. What’s the flux? 91.3 KBCS is going to find out.
Share your commuter stories with What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatches. All riders in King County are welcome, especially those of you commuting to and from the ...

November 16, 2015In South Seattle last week, a group of young politicos of color decided to offer their points of view on this year’s vote with an event titled, Young, Gifted and Brown: 2015 Seattle Post-Election Analysis. It was a packed house as they shared their opinions on engaging communities and candidates of color. Our own Sonya ...

November 13, 2015Native Seattleite, Ian Ebright, has debuted his narrative short film, ‘From the Sky’ online this week. The film is about a family living under drones. It’s earned 12 awards, 5 nominations and 27 official selections at fests ranging from SIFF to the Oscar-qualifying Rhode Island International Film Festival where it won the International Humanitarian Award ...

November 11, 2015KBCS News Director, Sonya Green speaks with Iraq war veteran, Christina Sciabarra. Christina is the Associate Director for the Center for Career Connections at Bellevue College. She works to help fellow veterans obtain services available to them and their families. among other things, Green discusses the image of female veterans with Christina.

November 3, 2015Initiative 1366 is the measure concerning state taxes and fees. Sonya spoke with No on I-1366 representative, Andrew Villeneuve. Villeneuve is a Bellevue College business student and founder of the Northwest Progressive Institute.

November 3, 2015Legalization has brought a new face to the marijuana industry. This series explores the emerging marijuana industry with insiders and outsiders. You’ll hear from growers, dispensary owners and communities of color impacted by the legalization of marijuana.
Episode 1 – Ryan Kunkel, Founder of Have a Heart Compasssion Care is the largest retailer of marijuana in ...

November 2, 201591.3 KBCS is one of 15 stations nationwide selected by AIR, the Association of Independents in Radio, to participate in the development of new media work in partnership with an AIR producer under the theme “Localore: Finding America.” KBCS will examine Seattle metro area commuting to capture first-hand accounts of commuters and allow their ...

October 27, 2015Domestic violence is often defined as a safety issue. And while there is truth to this aspect of domestic violence, there are still many other factors. Sonya Green spoke with an anti-domestic violence advocate, Heather Stark.

October 19, 2015Anne Marie Slaughter is the author of a recent book,Why Women Can’t Have it All in the magazine The Atlantic Monthly,/i>. Slaughter has been Director of Policy Planning for the US Dept. of State and Professor at Princeton University’s Public and International Affairs School and at Harvard Law School. She spoke at Seattle’s Town Hall.

October 9, 2015It’s no surprise that the natural environment affects our nervous system and bodies in positive ways, yet kids today spend more than seven hours a day in front of entertainment media and an average of a half an hour outside. We highlight the power and benefits of nature on us this week.
Episode 1: Hilarie Cash ...

October 7, 2015Tens of thousands of students of kids go back to school this fall in the tech corridor of the east side. We highlight Issaquah, Bellevue and Riverview school districts activities and programs.
Episode 1 & 2: Issaquah School District Superintendent, Ron Thiele shares his struggles in providing the infrastructure for the growing number of students in ...

October 7, 2015Between the civil rights movement, Vietnam War protests and sheer numbers of teenage baby boomers, the US saw a true revolution in politics, style and fashion between the mid 60s and 70’s. This week, we highlight counter culture fashion with University of Washington instructor and guest curator of the Bellevue Arts Museum’s current exhibit, Counter ...

October 3, 2015The 2015 Primary Election is Tuesday, August 4th. You can vote:
By mail. Ballots require first class postage and must be postmarked by August 4th.
At an accessible voting center by 8 p.m.
At a 24-hour drop box or a scheduled van drop by 8 p.m.
Don’t forget to sign your ballot envelope! (It is not valid without a ...

September 18, 2015Bellevue College and Washington State University are discussing a future partnership between the two schools. Currently a handful of online two-year and four-year degrees are offered jointly by BC and WSU, but the new relationship is planned to be more expansive and provide more opportunities to future students. Earlier this month two town hall meetings ...

September 1, 2015Our region’s Native community is vibrant, and a force to be reckoned with. From art and education, to social services and political advocacy, we feature some of the leaders empowering the Native experience.
Episode 1 – Last October, local Lakota activist, and Co-founder of the blog, Last Real Indians Matt Remle made a breakthrough in Seattle with the replacement ...

July 30, 2015The Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) rolled out earlier this month. Since then, a lot buzzes around Seattle’s proposed zoning changes, tenant’s rights and interests and access to home ownership.
This week’s series looks at some background on the HALA report and on Seattle’s movement for rent control.
Episode 1, 2 & 3 – Jonathan Grant is a ...

July 27, 2015You’ve heard the term fair trade. It applies to everything from clothing to coffee to chocolate. And to music. Recently in Seattle, local musicians struck a fair trade agreement with some participating music venues and the city to create a set of guidelines for musician pay and equipment standards.
Episode 1 – Nate Omdal is a Seattle area ...

July 2, 2015Caitlyn Jenner hit the cover of Vanity Fair with flair, inspiring public discussion on her journey in gender transition. KBCS highlights some of our local transgender community’s day to day challenges in healthcare, public safety, and navigating our streets in this five-part series.
Episode 1 -Marlo Mack is a mother of a transgender daughter and blogger. ...

June 6, 2015Over 200 Washington state farmers come into Seattle every week to sell their produce, meat and dairy. According to King County, sales by these farmers exceeded $21 million last year. We feature highlights on local foods, as our region’s farmers markets slide into full swing.
Episode 1 & 2: Brady Ryan is the founder of San ...

June 5, 2015In bull riding, a cowboy is challenged to last 8 seconds on a bucking bull. Professional riders have less than a 50% chance of lasting a full ride. This week, we highlight bull riding through the perspectives of those who live it.
Episode 1: Gary Leffew is the 1970 bull riding world champion He’s also a ...

May 8, 2015By John Stang
Senate Democrats and supporters made a symbolic push Thursday to get a state voting rights act to the Washington Senate floor.
The legislation appears doomed for 2015.
Technically, though, two similar bills are in play, one sponsored by Sen. Cyrus Habib, D-Kirkland and the other by Rep. Luis Moscoso, D-Mountlake Terrace. The bills address situations ...

April 30, 2015Animals, as pets can bring an invaluable benefit to our lives. And for some, animals can be a lifeline. This week we look at the back story on guide dogs as a source of navigation and safety for thousands of people with visual impairments across the country. We also feature how horses can help in ...

April 27, 2015By John Stang
Heavy on trains and pipelines, but no Puget Sound oil spill prevention measures. That about sums up a Washington House-Senate compromise on their competing oil transportation safety bills.
The Senate passed the compromise, 46-0, on Friday. Shortly after, the measure got a resounding 95-1 Yes from the House.
“It’s an above-average bill,” said Sen. Christine ...

April 24, 2015Wednesday, April 20th is Earth Day. This week we get Northwest perspectives on how the coal and oil industry affects us all. Guests include:
Meg Matthews, spokesperson for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. Information at CoalToCleanWA.org
Rebecca Ponzio, Oil Campaign Director for the Washington Environmental Council. More info at WECProtects.org
Jewell James, Coal Manager of the Lummi Sovereignty and ...

April 17, 2015Calling it a civil rights issue, Washington Public Schools Superintendent Randy Dorn urges lawmakers to make changes so that school districts aren’t as reliant on local levies. In this raw video, Dorn explains why levy reform is just as important as new education funding, for the legislature to comply with the State Supreme Court McCleary ...

April 13, 2015Essence is a well-known monthly African American women’s magazine. What may not be as well-known is the successful black women’s lifestyle publication was founded by four African American men including Edward Lewis. Edward Lewis was in our studios to share his perspective and experience in starting up, Essence.
Episode 1 – Co-Founder of Essence Magazine, Edward ...

April 10, 2015The worldwide demand for chocolate is growing. Industry sales are worth 18 billion in the US, and the world chocolate market is expected to rise to over 98 billion by 2016. This series features chocolate from the cacao farms to chocolate making in the United States.
Episode 1 – Lauren Adler is the owner and Chief ...

April 7, 2015By John Stang
You can add Initiative 1351 to the long list of budget items that Washington’s House Democrats and Senate Republicans will fight about as they negotiate the state’s 2015-2017 operating budget.
The Senate Majority Coalition of 25 Republicans and one Democrat wants to send I-1351 back to the voters in November for a do-over. The ...

April 3, 2015By John Stang
The Washington Senate Democrats charged their Republican colleagues purposely stacked the deck in passing the GOP’s 2015-2017 operating budget proposal. Why? To protect Sen. Andy Hill, R- Redmond, from having to cast embarrassing votes.
While he has not publicly talked of running, Hill’s name has been circulated in political circles as a possible GOP ...

April 2, 2015Community organizers continue to voice their opposition to the youth detention center proposed to replace the existing one despite King County’s plans to move forward. Organizers say it’s not just about a building, it’s about the racial inequity of the prison system. On Tuesday, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced measures to address racial disparity ...

April 1, 2015Madeleine Albright served as the first female Secretary of State from 1997 to 2001. She attended the March opening of the Bellevue Arts Museum exhibit of her pins – accessories she used to sometimes make a political point during her work in global diplomacy. She spoke to a forum of Bellevue area high school students ...

March 31, 2015Parenting and being a caregiver of a child can bring about the biggest joys and some of the most difficult challenges of our day to day lives. This series offers some perspectives on parenting today.
Episode 1 – Local child safety expert Kim Estes on kids and the media today
Episode 2 – Seattle based child safety ...

March 18, 2015In 2013, the US Department of Health and Human Services reported an estimated four children die every day as a result of child abuse. Listen to a number of perspectives and personal experiences of child abuse and child sexual assault in this series. The hotline for the Providence Intervention Center for Assault and Abuse is ...

March 13, 2015A Priority Hire Ordinance passed 9:0 by the City of Seattle in January, 2015. This requires any public construction projects of $5 million or more to hire 20% of its workforce from economically distressed communities within Seattle and King County. KBCS Producer, Yuko Kodama interviewed a number of South Seattle residents on how this new ...

March 13, 2015Last March, hundreds of detainees at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma performed a hunger strike. It was the first of two more at the Tacoma Northwest detention center and at immigration detention centers in Texas and Alabama. Today we get the update on conditions of the immigration detention center in Tacoma today and on ...

March 9, 2015In March of 2003, 23 year old peace activist from Olympia Washington, Rachel Corrie was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer while undertaking nonviolent direct action to protect the home of a Palestinian family from demolition. Just last month, Israel’s Supreme Court rejected an appeal to decade-long legal proceedings on whether the Israeli army ...

March 9, 2015By John Stang
Amid universal praise for the Selma civil rights march, Washington’s Republican and Democratic senators passed a resolution commending the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. for leading the historic walk 50 years ago this week.
Then the Senate’s minority Democrats took the occasion to try to bring a stalled election bill — tailored to provide ...

March 9, 2015On Music & Ideas host Sonya Green discusses Black Lives Matter and more with author, Green Party US Senate candidate and Seattle chapter Black Panther Party co-founder Aaron Dixon. Dixon is also the author of My People Are Rising: Memoir of a Black Panther Party Captain. We are also joined by Seattle King County NAACP President, ...

March 5, 2015Seattle’s Franklin High School made history on March 29th, 1968 as reportedly over 100 students staged a sit-in. It was the first of its kind. And it helped to spark the civil rights movement in Seattle.
Episode 1 -Former Franklin High School student involved in the 1968 student sit-in, Charles Oliver recounts his experience of what ...

March 3, 2015By John Stang
Lt. Gov. Brad Owen ruled Monday that the Washington Senate’s new internal procedural rule to require a two-thirds majority to pass any new taxes is unconstitutional.
So … the Senate went ahead and did what it was about to do on Friday before Democrats requested his ruling.

March 3, 2015Distributed by Crosscut Public Media
The Washington House unanimously passed a “revenge-porn” bill Monday that would allow a victim to seek damages in civil court for posting intimate images without a person’s consent.

February 26, 2015Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness, including suicide. We feature a series on the many faces of eating disorders in our communities.
Episode 1 – Dr. Neeru Bakshi of the Eating Recovery Center of Washington describes the varying ranges and types of eating disorders.
Episode 2 – South Sound teen, Kylie Charney ...

February 26, 2015By John Stang
As the debates increase over transporting oil by rail, Sen. Mike Baumgartner wants the state to study a potential east-west oil pipeline.
Baumgartner, R-Spokane, introduced a bill Wednesday to spend $250,000 on a study by the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council on whether a crude oil pipeline should be installed, and what would ...

February 25, 2015The definition of soul food is changing in the African American community. And that change is in part because of African American chefs and bakers consciously creating awareness with diverse healthy food options. We talk to three chefs hoping to make a difference in what we eat and how we eat. Tarik Abdullah is a ...

February 24, 2015Death, a natural event we all face, is usually sidestepped as a topic of conversation. Here are some of our local segments on death. The first two episodes are on a novel about death. The second two episodes are on how we plan for death and on advanced directives.
Episode 1: Author, Jason Mott penned the ...

February 19, 2015Baha’i’s are a religious minority in Iran. Since the 1979 Iranian revolution, Baha’i’s have been persecuted in Iran for teaching and studying. An international campaign, Education is Not a Crime, launches on February 27 to shed light on the plight of Iranian Baha’i’s. A documentary, To Light A Candle shows how Baha’i’s have defied the persecution ...

February 18, 2015By Top Story Network
Just three months after voters approved Initiative 1351 calling for smaller class sizes, lawmakers are thinking about sending the initiative back to voters–what would be a historic move. I-1351 passed in November with 51% of the vote. State Senator Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island, calls the initiative “irresponsible” because it directed smaller class sizes in ...

February 17, 2015By John Stang
A needed boost to fix old schools? Or sore losers wanting to change the rules?
Those were some of the ways that speakers at a legislative hearing Monday described a bill by Rep. Mia Gregerson, D-SeaTac, and Rep. Dick Muri, R-Steilacoom, to ease the passage of school bond measures. Their bill calls for a ...

February 17, 2015By John Stang
The state would undertake a sweeping count of the number of homeless kids from birth through 10 years old, under a bill working its way through the House.
The bill by Rep. Jake Fey, D-Tacoma, would order the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to tackle such a census, including determining the average length ...

February 16, 2015By John Stang
An organization of American Muslims said Thursday that Rep. Larry Haler, R-Richland, should apologize publicly for saying it is a subsidiary of violent Middle East groups.
In reply, Haler issued a press release saying he has apologized twice in private for his remarks.
The controversy dates back to a Jan. 14 hearing of the Washington ...

February 16, 2015Black activism and prison organizing go hand in hand according to University of Washington, Bothell, Professor Dan Berger’s book, Captive Nation: Black Prison Organizing in the Civil Rights Era. In the book, Berger explores how prisoners used jail to shine the light on racial oppression and what it means to be free. KBCS News Director, ...

February 16, 2015By John Stang
It took 22 months to gestate. But a bipartisan $15.1 billion Washington Senate transportation package with an 11.7-cent-per-gallon gas tax hike was unveiled Thursday.
Now the question is whether enough senators in both the Republican and Democratic caucuses will actually vote for the package, designed to run 16 years.
“From my perspective, this is a ...

February 10, 2015By John Stang
Sen. Pam Roach feels Lt. Gov. Brad Owen’s pain. So does Sen. Don Benton.
Owen’s pain is a $15,000 fine that the Washington Executive Ethics Board levied against him last September for running his nonprofit anti-drug program out of his public office. The fine has $5,000 suspended with the assumption of no future ethics ...

February 5, 2015By John Stang
Some state senators want to tweak Initiative 937 to encourage new efforts at reducing carbon emissions in Washington.
The proposed change to the 2006 voter-approved measure on the use of alternative energy sources by electric utilities is one part of GOP-originated proposals on energy and carbon-reduction unveiled at a Wednesday press conference in Olympia.
Gov. ...

February 4, 2015By John Stang
Should the public know when oil trains come through and what type of oil they are carrying?
That question was debated Tuesday at a Washington House Environment Committee hearing on an oil train safety bill introduced by Rep. Jessyn Farrell, D- Seattle.
The Western States Petroleum Association, two railroads and at least one committee member ...

January 29, 2015By John Stang
A bill to increase Washington’s minimum wage cleared the House Labor Committee Thursday by a 4-3 party-line vote.
The Democrats’ committee victory means that Rep. Jessyn Farrell, D- Seattle, now has to nail down 50 votes to for her bill to pass the full House. It would increase Washington’s minimum wage from $9.47 to ...

January 28, 2015We have a very rich history of labor union activity in the Pacific Northwest. We highlight Carlos Bulosan and the immigrant Filipino and Filipino American labor organizing community.
News Director, Sonya Green interviews the following guests at the KBCS studios:
Conor Casey – University of Washington Libraries Special Collections Labor Archivist
Joaquin Uy – Community Organizer and Campaigns ...

January 28, 2015About 7200 prisoners are released from Washington state prisons each year. Of those released, 30% end up back behind bars. The IF Project provides a mentorship program started by Seattle detectives in 2008. The program provides a volunteer mentor to support and assist incarcerated individuals when they’re released from prison.
KBCS Producer, Yuko Kodama interviewed Ashley ...

January 27, 2015From Seattle Top Story
Robert Mak interviewed Rep. Judy Clibborn (D-Mercer Island), chair of the House Transportation Committee on lawmakers coming up with a transportation package this year and what’s next for the Bertha tunneling project.
Click here for more 2015 Olympia coverage.

January 27, 2015By John Stang
Several supporters of an increase in Washington’s minimum wage made a show of playing “bingo” Monday during a House Labor Committee hearing on the proposal. They marked off a box whenever a business lobbyist uttered a specific phrase or argument — such as Idaho’s $7.25-an-hour minimum wage or passing costs to customers — ...

January 26, 20151968 Olympian, author and Olympic Project for Human Rights organizer, Dr. John Carlos and author and sports writer, Dave Zirin talk sports and politics. Dr John Carlos authored his memoir with Dave Zirin, “The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment that Changed the World.” That moment is when Olympic medal winners in the 200 meter ...

January 26, 2015By John Stang
A bill to regulate the gathering of information by private drone aircraft is poised for a takeoff in the Washington House.
The legislation introduced by Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Mount Vernon, faced no opposition at a hearing on Wednesday. It could receive a vote in the House Technology & Economic Development Committee sometime this week. ...

January 23, 2015By John Stang.
Jean Godden used to be one off six columnists for the now-closed Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper. The other five were men. Then, Godden, who is now a Seattle City Council member, found out she was the lowest paid of the six.
That made her angry.
“I don’t want another woman to face the same problem I ...

January 22, 2015By John Stang.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson wants to make Washington the first state with a legal smoking age of 21.
To back him up, Sen. Mark Miloscia, R-Federal Way, and Rep Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, on Wednesday introduced bills to do so in the Senate and in the House. Both Miloscia and Orwall predicted the legislation ...

January 21, 2015By John Stang.
Two influential state senators expressed optimism Tuesday about achieving a merger of the state’s medical marijuana and recreational pot systems.
Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, spelled out details of what she plans to put into her soon-to-be-filed marijuana bill, describing it as complementary to an existing bill by Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center.
Kohl-Welles and Rivers ...

January 21, 2015By John Stang.
Olympia’s Republicans slammed Gov. Jay Inslee’s proposed carbon emissions controls several ways — including opposing Inslee’s proposal to funnel some money from polluters into an unfunded working family tax rebate program.
They were responding to the governor’s annual State Of The State speech given on Tuesday, January 13, where Inslee covered themes and proposals ...

January 19, 201591.3 KBCS celebrates Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day by airing parts of a previously unknown recording of Dr. King discovered last December by Pacifica Radio Network. Audio of the speech will be broadcast for the first time since it’s discovery on Democracy Now! heard on 91.3 KBCS at 6 a.m., 8 a.m. and ...

January 7, 2015A new, alternative voice in our local media scene went live January 2015. Stackedd Magazine is an online publication run and written exclusively by women. The magazine provides Pacific Northwest women a platform of their own to speak on issues from civics, sex, to parenting, along with music, food and arts coverage.
We’re joined by Ma’Chell ...

December 15, 2014March is women’s history month. KBCS producer Yuko Kodama spoke with actress and historian, Tames Alan about the intersection of women’s fashion and politics in 19th Century. – See more at: http://kbcs.fm/2014/03/10/history-politics-of-womens-fashion/#sthash.34MlZKOb.dpuf

December 11, 2014The National Weather Service has issued a high-wind watch for Western Washington for this afternoon (Thursday, December 11th.) Winds from the South 30-40 MPH, with gusts of up to 65 MPH are expected in North Puget Sound, possibly extending into the Southwest interior. The storm is expected to last through late Thursday night.
A nifty animation ...

December 4, 2014Some people in our community say that art not only helps promote social relationship and awareness, but encourages social change. Listen to segments of interviews with artists, art educators and art students about how art is a conversation.
Episode 1: University of Washington Tacoma, Professor of Interdisciplinary studies, Beverly Naidus talks about her experience in creating ...

November 18, 2014You may know Bruce Lee as a martial artist legend and action movie hero. The city of Seattle is where much of his story begins.
Bruce Lee spent his youth in Hong Kong and moved to Seattle at the age of eighteen. Ruby Chow, a family friend, and future King County Councilmember, gave him a place ...

November 6, 2014Many Americans tend to take pride in our election system. This KBCS Produced five-part-series reflects on the struggles toward making our voting process more fair.
Producer Yuko Kodama interviewed former University of Washington Political Science Professor Luis Ricardo Fraga and University of Washington Political Science and Adjunct Law Professor, Matt Barreto in 2013. You can listen ...

November 4, 2014Voters are casting their ballots on whether or not to shrink classroom sizes throughout the state on November 4th.
If approved by voters, the measure would require fewer students per classroom in grades K through 12. For kindergarten through third grade, each class would have no more than 15 to 17 students. In grades 4 through ...

November 4, 2014The debate over school shootings and gun control laws heats up in the wake of the recent Marysville Pilchuck High School shooting that left two dead and three others injured. The young shooter, Jaylen Fryberg, took his own life.
Now Washington voters have a decision to make about gun laws in the state. The Washington Gun ...

October 29, 2014The Washington Class Size Reduction Measure, Initiative 1351 is one of five issues voters have to consider on the ballot this coming Tuesday. The measure directs the legislature to allocate funds for smaller K-12 classrooms and hire more teachers and support staff in schools throughout Washington State.
If approved, the measure would be phased in over ...

October 24, 2014Seattle voters will take up the issue of transportation funding for the Seattle Transportation Benefit District Proposition 1.
If approved, this proposition would fund the preservation of transit service on existing routes (primarily serving the Seattle area) proposed to be cut beginning 2015 . A portion of the funds collected would be to support regional transit ...

October 24, 2014Voters in Seattle are considering two propositions on early learning programs and providers.
Proposition 1A establishes a $15 minimum wage for childcare workers, seeks to reduce childcare costs, prohibits violent felons from providing professional childcare and creates a training institute for enhanced training and certification, among other things.
Proposition 1B aims to expand a high quality preschool ...

September 19, 2014September is National Recovery Month and this week we talk with a number of experts about the different faces of addiction and recovery.
This week:
Episodes 1 & 2 – Bellevue College, Alcohol Drug Counseling Program Director, Paul Weatherly talks about Marijuana with KBCS News & Public Affairs Director, Sonya Green
Episodes 3 & 4 – Bellevue psychotherapist, ...

September 17, 2014Sickle cell disease is a disorder in which the body makes sickle-shaped red blood cells that cannot move easily through blood vessels. Sickle cell anemia is the most common form of sickle cell disease. It mainly affects people of African, Asian and Mediterranean descent. KBCS News Director, Sonya Green discuss sickle cell disease, treatment and ...

September 4, 2014Last year, the United States deported nearly 370,000 people. That’s nine times the number 20 years ago. Meanwhile, a recent study on trends in Mexico released by the Pew Research Center finds that 34% of its pool said they would like to migrate to the US. Over 70% said top concerns were with crime, corruption ...

August 29, 2014The Mexican government formed a special police force to protect businesses from kidnapping and extortion by criminal gangs. Organized crime has become a rampant concern in the indigenous villages of Mexico as has been the case in El Salvador, Nicaragua and other parts of Central America. U.S. naturalized citizen, Nestora Salgado was seized without an ...

August 29, 2014ENCORE BROADCAST – Women’s Equality Day is August 26th. It marks the day in 1920 when women were officially given the right to vote as part of the US constitution. This week, we revisit our conversations with local women about feminism.
Episode 1 & 2 – University of Washington graduate, Hamdi Mohammed speaks with KBCS Producer, ...

August 4, 2014On July 26, 1990, the American with Disabilities Act was signed giving people with disabilities full civil rights. To mark the historic date our week’s series features voices of disability advocates and educators from the Bellevue College Disability Resource Center. KBCS News & Public Affairs Director Sonya Green interviewed Bellevue College Disability Resource Center Director, ...

June 26, 2014June is African American Music Appreciation Month. We feature KBCS in-studio interviews from Music + Ideas host, Sonya Green and the Caravan host, John Gilbreath with remarkable new and seasoned musicians. You’ll hear segments of KBCS interviews with Ethiopian, San Francisco based music artist Meklit Hadero, R&B Band, Mint Condition, Kenyan American artist, Naomi Wachira, ...

May 28, 2014in 1961, civil rights activists boarded interstate buses, making trips throughout the American South, to protest segregation in bus terminals. The group started out with 13 people but many joined the movement. Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr. was inspired to become a freedom rider and played a key role early on in the organizing of the ...

May 8, 2014One experience we all share is that we’ve all been born. In this series, you’ll listen to a physical therapist who’s specialized in childbirth education and labor support since 1968. Her name’s Penny Simkin and KBCS’s Yuko Kodama interviewed her in this five-part series.
Part 1 – How giving birth can deeply affect a woman’s identity
Part ...

May 2, 2014Garfield High School Senior, Erasmus Baxter says there are about 40 students marching to the federal building in downtown Seattle to protest the Keystone XL Pipeline. The students are from various schools in the Seattle area. Baxter encourages people to sign up online for the “Pledge of Resistance” to carry out acts of civil disobedience ...

May 2, 2014The turnout for this year’s May Day immigration reform march in Seattle was lighter than in year’s past.
City officials estimated only about 500 people joined the demonstration that ended at Westlake Center without incident.
By evening, however, several hundred different protesters representing a variety of causes began making their way from Capitol Hill to downtown in ...

May 1, 2014The 11th annual Langston Hughes African American Film Festival is underway at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute in Seattle. What began as a weekend series 11 years ago is now a nine-day festival with everything from short to long films and documentaries. And new this year is the addition of food trucks for weekend ...

April 23, 2014Many consumers and business advocates have a lot to say about the Comcast Time Warner merger announcement. When Comcast buys out Time Warner, the two combined would have 30 million cable subscribers and would control close to half of the internet connections in the United States. Music + Ideas host, Sonya Green hosts a ...

April 15, 2014On April 15, 1947 Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers. However, long before Robinson was a household name, baseball was a part of the fabric of many African American communities. A new exhibit at the Northwest African American Museum, Pitch Black: African American Baseball in Washington, explores the ...

April 14, 2014The Rwandan genocide began claiming up to a million lives in April 20 years ago. Today, we highlight a documentary film based in Rwanda called Finding Hillywood. It’s created by a local director, Leah Warshawski and the film focuses on the vibrant Rwandan film industry today. We talk about this film and take a look ...

March 26, 2014Well over 10,000 people in Washington are deaf. Our state hosts a rich variety of resources for the deaf. Today, we look at the culture contributed by, for, and of the deaf in our region. The deaf community produces plays, advocates for art tours at museums interpreted in sign language, organizes community discussions on the ...

March 25, 2014Since March 7th a large number of detainees at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma have been on a hunger strike, protesting conditions in the immigration detention facility. The strikers have given a list of demands to GEO, the private company that built and operates the immigration detention facility. On the 11th day of the hunger strike ...

March 17, 2014Horse therapy can provide healing for both physical disabilities and for emotional trauma. We explored this topic on Music & Ideas with guests Sarah Niwa,Therapist at Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, Sandy Matts, Co founder of Raven Rock Ranch specializing in equine therapy for trauma, and Karyn Schneider, mother to a daughter who has benefitted ...

February 28, 2014On Music+Ideas this week we explore some of the complexity and challenges of adoption across ethnic lines. This series was produced for KBCS by Yuko Kodama.
Day 1 – When children are one race and their parents are another, racial literacy is important. Transracial adoptions are intended for good but sometimes the adoptee experiences a different outcome. Nari ...

January 30, 201412th man excitement is at an all time high in Seattle! The Seattle Seahawks clinched the NFC Championship and a spot in the Super Bowl in large part because of cornerback Richard Sherman’s game winning play. The play was huge but it’s Sherman’s post-game interview with reporter, Erin Andrews, that made headlines.
KBCS Music + Ideas ...

January 27, 2014According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in four Americans over 18 suffer from a psychological disorder. We celebrate Mental Wellness month this January, by honoring the voices of those working through mental illness.
Speakers:
part 1) Natasha Moore, member of Board of Directors of Auburn Youth Services
part 2) Cynthia Etheridge & June Turner
part 3) ...

December 19, 2013The giving season is upon us! At this time of selling, buying and gifting, it seems appropriate to step back and take a look at consumerism. The non-profit organization, Humanities Washington hosts Think & Drinks throughout the state – public events that offer a topic and a panel of speakers on the topic to inspire ...

December 11, 2013It’s Disability Awareness Month and we host a discussion on what some are doing to increase awareness of what people with disabilities have to offer our communities. We take time to reflect on the history of the disability justice movement and consider the experience of people with disabilities and their families in incorporating this population ...

December 3, 2013Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in central Philippines on November 8. More than 5,000 people are dead and thousands still missing. An estimated 4 million people are homeless. Government agencies and international aid organizations continue to assist with aid efforts as does local organizations.
Roger Rigor a member of Philippine US Solidarity Organization or PUSO. PUSO was founded ...

November 25, 2013Internationally renowned biodiversity and global-justice activist, author, and philosopher, Dr. Vandana Shiva was at Seattle’s Town Hall in 2013 and shared her thoughts on the future of food. In this series, we address the issue of genetically modified (GMO) food as she breaks down the takeover of agricultural seed, focuses on industrial agriculture’s international environmental ...

November 20, 2013Music+Ideas host Sonya Green talks with Mary Jane Knecht, Manager of Adult Programs at Frye Art Museum in Seattle, and Dr. Lee Burnside, from the University of Washington Medical School of Geriatrics, and Mary Lou Brown, caregiver to her husband who was diagnosed with dementia in 1996.
The discussion ranged from the symptoms and progression of ...

November 15, 2013In Israel, former soldiers speak out against the military’s policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. They’re part of a group of veterans called Breaking the Silence. They document violations and abuse by the military, the heavy toll on Palestinians and the lasting impact on Israeli soldiers.
KBCS News & Public Affairs Director, Sonya Green interviewed Breaking ...

November 15, 2013In March of 2013, The Department of Veterans Affairs reported over 600,000 veteran unprocessed claims. In November of 2013, the Head of the Department of Veteran Affairs, Eric Shinseki claimed they had cut the number of claims by a third. In the meantime, the Washington Times reported that despite the improvement in the number of ...

October 31, 2013From the famous stories of vampires and werewolves near Forks, the Lady in Blue at Port Townsend’s Palace Hotel, to numerous reported ghost sightings on Seattle’s Capitol Hill, the Puget Sound is home to a rich history of the haunted and paranormal.
So rich and lively, in fact that there are apparently about 200 ghost hunting ...

October 28, 2013How might some people from cultures that have centered their diet and spirituality around salmon feel about genetically engineered salmon?
KBCS News & Public Affairs Director, Sonya Green speaks with Rob Purser, Fisheries Director of the Suquamish Tribe, Valerie Segrest, Community Nutritionist and registered member of the Muckleshoot Tribe, and Anne Mosness, long time Fisherwoman and ...

October 28, 2013According to recent study, more pesticides are being used than ever before on genetically modified, “Round-up Ready”, corn crops and genetically modified cotton. Host Sean Donovan interviewed Dr. Chuck Benbrook, Faculty Member of Washington State University’s Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources.

October 22, 2013In King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties the last day to register to vote is October 28th.
The 2013 general election is Tuesday, November 5th. You can vote:
By mail. Ballots require first class postage and must be postmarked by November 5th.
At an accessible voting center by 8 p.m.
At a 24-hour drop box or a scheduled van ...

October 17, 2013KBCS held Bellevue City Council candidate debates for position 4 and 6. The two candidates running for position 4 are longtime businessman and Bellevue’s mayor, Conrad Lee. Lee has been with the council since 1993. His challenger is Lyndon Heywood. Heywood is a graphic artists, and he’s on Redmond’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Board, its Bicycle ...

October 14, 2013Three inspiring and courageous women recently visited our studios to share their personal stories of survival. Each of them offered insight into the darkness of intimate partner violence.
We want to thank the Thrivers Action Group, a local non-profit committed to educating our community and raising public awareness about domestic violence, for making this series possible and ...

October 10, 2013Music + Ideas, October 10th
Chanterelles, morels, fiddleheads, huckleberries, nettle, nori… These are all ingredients we see more of on locavore restaurant menus these days. They’re all wild foods, foods that aren’t grown in rows but are only found in our wild northwest setting. More people are getting out to forage for these ingredients recently. Whether ...

October 10, 2013Social justice issues are brought to light through film this week with the Social Justice Film Festival. The Festival features 60 documentaries and films exploring a range of social-justice topics including racism and poverty, criminal justice, and human rights around the world.
The opening film is Mothers of Bedford. It’s a documentary that follows five women as ...

October 8, 2013Music + Ideas teams up with our online news partner, Bellevue Patch for a series of debates. Bellevue Patch editor, Venice Buhain, assisted with the interviews for candidates for Bellevue school board, seat 5.
Ed Luera is the vice president for leasing and marketing at Clise Properties. He’s also a football coach with three children who ...

October 8, 2013Music + Ideas teams up with our online news partner, Bellevue Patch for a series of debates. Bellevue Patch editor, Venice Buhain assisted with the debate.
Seat #4 candidates include Krishchanna Roberson and Tracy Trojovsky.
Krishchanna is a mother of four and the director of operations at Bellevue College in the Health Science Division.
Tracy Trojovsky declined the ...

October 7, 2013How do we communicate with teenagers? You can bet a lot of people are interested in catching their attention. CBS news reported that companies were spending nearly $17 billion a year marketing to kids in 2009. And according to the New York Times, the average city dweller is exposed to over five thousand advertisements a ...

September 20, 2013October brings us the Seattle Latino Film Festival. It celebrates its fifth year with films featured in Tacoma, Seattle and Bellevue from October fourth through the thirteenth. The festival not only brings independent films, but appearances by internationally acclaimed Latino directors and actors.
Guests:
Jorge Enrique Gonzalez Pacheco, the founder of the Seattle Latino Film Festival .
Melinda ...

September 11, 2013The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created Low Power FM (LP FM) radio service in 2000. LP FM radio stations reach a radius of three to ten miles with up to 100 watts of power. In 2011, the FCC created an opportunity for communities to apply for LP FM station licenses. This is the first and ...

September 5, 2013Maybe you’ve wanted to quit your desk job to volunteer your time to a cause overseas or maybe you want to climb the 10 great peaks of the world. Whatever your dream is, what keeps you from chasing after it? or is it thinking about it that keeps you going?
Our gueststoday are Tay Siang Huy ...

September 3, 20139/11 has changed the American landscape in a huge way, and it’s impacted the Muslim American community profoundly. Negative stereotypes and intolerance of Muslims have emerged since the tragedy, making uncomfortable interactions a common occurrence for our local Muslim families. Today, we talk about the challenges this community faces and how they’re reaching out to ...

August 14, 2013ENCORE BROADCAST – Human trafficking is essentially modern day slavery. It’s when someone is forced or coerced with violence, deception or threats to provide labor or commercial sex, and when they’re prevented from leaving the situation. Human trafficking can occur anywhere and it does happen in our region. It can range from domestic servitude to ...

August 13, 2013The Bushwick Book Club Seattle is a group of musicians who write original music inspired by the books they read. This summer the King County Library System teamed up with the Bushwick Book Club for the KCLS, “A Place at the Table” program series. The club read Michael Pollan’s books, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural ...

August 13, 2013Access to performances and stages can be hard to come by for those who don’t have the cash, but want to put on a show. The Seattle Theatre Group (STG) has changed the game for the summer season. STG opened Nights at the Neptune where local groups could apply for a night to perform at ...

August 6, 2013It’s been 68 years since the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Today, we’re still faced with cleaning up nuclear waste from producing plutonium for bombing Nagasaki and our region houses the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the United States just 20 miles northwest of Seattle. Join us today on Music+Ideas at ...

August 1, 2013The George Zimmerman verdict in the Trayvon Martin case makes us reflect on our perceptions of people within our own communities. What perpetuates certain stereotypes of black men and women?
On one hand, Zimmerman was acquitted in Florida for “defending himself” by shooting and killing someone he allegedly felt threatened by. On the other hand, Marissa ...

July 25, 2013We’ve all heard about the growing income disparities in our communities. Who’s going to help navigate us out of this jam?
Perhaps the younger generation is the place to turn.
The Peace Activist Trainee Program is working on just that. It’s a program that pays high school students to participate in a month- long workshop. It familiarizes ...

July 24, 2013Today on Music + Ideas, KBCS News Director Sonya Green referees a discussion between candidates in the August. 6th primary election for Seattle City Council, Position 8:
Albert Shen
Mike O’Brien
David Ishii
Listen and download the interview here: KBCS_M+I_20130724_Seattle City Council Position 8
Share this story by clicking the Facebook or Twitter icon on the right side of the ...

July 22, 2013Today on Music + Ideas, KBCS News Director Sonya Green and Venice Buhain, Editor of Bellevue.Patch.com, referee a discussion between candidates in the August. 6th primary election for Bellevue city council – position #6.
Don Davidson
Lynne Robinson
Vandana Slatter
Listen and download the interview here: KBCS_M+I_20130722_Bellevue City Council Position 6
Share this story by clicking the Facebook or Twitter ...

July 19, 2013According to a 2011 Feeding America study, “Map the Meal Gap: Child Food Insecurity 2011”, while one in six Americans overall are food insecure, the rate for children is much higher: nearly one in four children are food insecure. This means that these individuals are unsure of the source of their next meal.
You can help feed hungry ...

July 8, 2013Seattle is home to a special exhibit right now which invites visitors into a thoughtful conversation about race. It’s at the Wing Luke Asian Museum, and it’s called Under My Skin: Artists Explore Race in the 21st Century.
In it, 26 artists share their creative visions of race. They depict the brutal realities of racism in the ...

June 28, 2013The first major global review of violence against women was released earlier this month by The World Health Organization. It found that about a third of women worldwide have been physically or sexually assaulted by a former or current partner.
Here in Washington, 755 people have died in domestic violence fatalities since 1997. Programs say the demand for ...

June 26, 2013Many people who identify as transgender face hardships in routine areas of daily life. They are twice as likely as the general population to be unemployed or homeless and four times as likely to live in poverty.
We talked with the Gender Justice League Executive Director, Danielle Askini, Deputy Director, Jenn Popkin and Elayne Wylie, Board Secretary about the transgender community ...

June 24, 2013Military loss doesn’t always mean death in combat. Sometimes it can take the form of a training accident, plane crash or… suicide. With the growing numbers of service members coming home, we see that they return to face another war – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), is a national non-profit ...

June 20, 2013Some people might think of art as being easy-on-the-eye and created by professional artists to show off at fancy places. Beverly Naidus, a professional in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Washington, Tacoma, wants to make art accessible to anyone. She doesn’t stop there though – she wants art to spur and encourage social change.
Guests:
Professor ...

May 29, 2013May 24th marks the 40th anniversary of Pablo Neruda’s death.
This revered Nobel Peace Prize-winner penned, among so much of his other work, Canto General. Canto General is a compilation of 12 poems in tribute to South America’s beauty, turbulent political history and destiny of its people.
Mikis Theodorakis one of Greece’s foremost composers, arranged music so ...

May 20, 2013Schools are a hot topic throughout the nation as resources for schools dwindle, and conversations around standardized testing continue. Today we talk about cultural competency in schools.
According to a 2012, 50-state report of the Schott Foundation for Public Education, 74% of Caucasian males graduate high school in our state today. In contrast, 55% of black ...

May 17, 2013The annual NW Folklife Festival celebrates music, arts and culture every Memorial Day weekend. Each year, the Festival features a cultural focus and this year’s theme is a look at labor culture in our region. Today on Music+Ideas, we discuss the culture around labor and the ever-active and ever-changing labor movements in Washington with three ...

May 13, 2013As our economy stumbles its way through these hard times, it’s good to take a moment to reflect on alternatives to how we can do business…and alternatives ARE out there.
Today on Music+Ideas, host Sonya Green takes a look at cooperative businesses, both consumer co-ops and worker-owned co-ops.
Webster Walker worked at Central Co-op (a consumer coop) ...

May 9, 2013Yoni Ki Baat is a growing collection of stories told by South Asian women inspired by Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues.
In the South Asian community it is often taboo to discuss topics of sexuality and sexual abuse. But South Asian arts organization, Tasveer, hopes this weekend’s Aaina Festival will change that.
The festival provides a space to ...

May 8, 2013As we reflect on Mothers this week, we look at some alternative pathways to motherhood. What do you do when you want to be a mother, but the road there is not so straightforward?
Today, we speak with mothers who have taken other routes to motherhood and a Fertility Physician who offers medical options for people ...

May 8, 2013Music + Ideas host, and KBCS news and public affairs director, Sonya Green will be on a panel discussion about media coverage of homelessness issues presented by the Housing Development Consortium in partnership with the Eastside Homelessness Advisory Committee, Tuesday May 14, 2-4pm.
Sonya, along with representatives from the Seattle Times, Bellevue Reporter, Crosscut, and Kirkland ...

May 6, 2013Over the weekend, Israel was in the news for reported air strikes in Syria. Israel is often in the news for the continued Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
China is hosting both the Palestinian and Israeli leaders this week, in a sign of its desire for a larger role in the Middle East. But is peace achievable?
Long time peace ...

May 1, 2013You know the saying, you are what you eat? Well what if you don’t know what’s in the food you’re eating?
Genetically modified food (GMO’s) is a hot topic of debate. What is genetically modified food? Is it good or harmful?
In Washington State come November, voters will decide the fate of Initiative 522, which would to ...

April 30, 2013According to a recent report from the National Employment Law Project, low-wage jobs are the fastest-growing sector of the economy. This makes the good-jobs deficit even deeper than it was at the start of the 21st century. The report says the unbalanced recession and recovery mean the long-term inequality in the U.S. continues to rise.
Tomorrow ...

April 29, 2013The 2012 Point in Time Homeless survey count revealed almost 9,000 people* on any given night in Washington State are homeless. A big reason for this high number is the lack of affordable housing options in the state.
Affordable housing is hard to come by lately when the average rent for a one bedroom in King ...

April 25, 2013Debt is the word of the moment.
While most of the focus lately is on government debt, little attention has been paid to the financial burdens many ordinary people are facing.
From ‘zombie debt”, to predatory lending, to payday loans, M+I host Sonya Green talks with four experts – including a victim of shading lending practices – ...

April 22, 2013This Earth Day KBCS’ resident story-teller, Auntmama, tells the tale of two rivers.
And on the Thom Hartmann Program today we’ll explore our home among the stars with Jim Metzner from Pulse of the Planet and Bill Schlesinger of Earthwise.

March 21, 2013KBCS reporter, David Griffith has been following the controversy surrounding proposed surveillance cameras in several Seattle neighborhoods.
In March, the Seattle City Council passed a bill concerning public surveillance equipment and confirmed appointments to the Seattle Police Commission. Earlier this year Council Member Bruce Harrell listened to citizens voice opposition to cameras that were already visible ...

June 21, 2006Theryn Kigvamasudvashti interviews two members of the Queer People of Color Liberation Project, Jen Bowman and Darius Morrison, about their life experience as queer and transgender, navigating the intersectionalities of race and LGBTQ identity.